President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signs Executive Order No. 94 at Malacañang Palace on September 11, 2025, formally creating the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to investigate alleged anomalies in flood-control and other public works projects. The certified copy of the order, stamped by the Malacañang Records Office, affirms the administration’s push for transparency and accountability in infrastructure spending. – Photo source :pco.gov.ph
The Marcos administration has launched a rare probe that spans three presidencies, ordering an independent panel to investigate billions spent on flood control projects amid growing public outrage over alleged corruption and ghost deals.
MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has created an Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to investigate alleged irregularities in government flood control projects over the past decade. The move covers projects approved during the Aquino, Duterte, and Marcos administrations and highlights the broad scope of accountability involved.
Scope covers three administrations
The inquiry, authorized under Executive Order No. 94, will review flood control projects carried out since 2015. The three-member panel will be empowered to hold hearings, subpoena documents, and recommend cases for prosecution before the Office of the Ombudsman or the Department of Justice.
The commission may also recommend preventive suspensions, contractor blacklisting, and asset freezes linked to questionable projects. Members have not yet been named.
Billions under review, lives at risk
Flood control projects have consumed about ₱545 billion in government funds in recent years. Despite the heavy spending, many communities remain vulnerable to typhoons and monsoon floods. Misuse of funds in this sector is not just a financial scandal but also a matter of public safety for residents repeatedly displaced by disasters.
The Commission on Audit (COA) has already flagged at least ₱341 million worth of projects as overpriced, substandard, or non-existent. The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has said it will file non-bailable charges against those responsible and has suspended bidding for new locally funded flood projects until reforms are in place.
Push for transparency
The order comes after weeks of highly publicized congressional hearings where lawmakers and contractors were accused of kickbacks and collusion. Those implicated have denied wrongdoing, but public anger has grown amid testimonies about overpricing and “ghost” works.
To address the issue, EO 94 requires the ICI to provide monthly progress reports to the Office of the President and publish updates for the public.
Why an independent commission
Marcos turned to an independent body instead of leaving the review solely to existing agencies for several reasons. Public trust has been shaken, with accusations involving contractors, lawmakers, and even government offices. By forming a separate panel, the administration hopes to assure citizens that the probe will not be seen as a partisan effort.
The scope of the investigation spans three presidencies, making it important to avoid the perception that it targets only one administration. The commission also has broader authority than typical oversight committees, including the power to recommend prosecutions, request asset freezes, and call for preventive suspensions.
Another key feature is transparency. EO 94 obliges the panel to issue monthly public reports, ensuring the public remains informed. With billions of pesos already spent and flood risks still threatening communities, the government needed a body focused solely on this matter, free from competing workloads.
Commission’s first tasks
The immediate priorities include naming the commissioners and consolidating findings already submitted by COA and Congress. Observers note the probe is unusual because it spans multiple presidencies, signaling an attempt to establish accountability that rises above political lines.
How far the inquiry progresses, and whether it results in prosecutions or long-term reforms, will be closely watched in the months ahead.
