The newly formed Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) is headed by former Supreme Court Associate Justice Andres Bernal Reyes Jr., with former DPWH Secretary Rogelio “Babes” L. Singson and SGV & Co. Country Managing Partner Rossana A. Fajardo as members. Baguio City Mayor Benjamin “Benjie” Magalong serves as special adviser. The commission brings together expertise from government, law enforcement, engineering, and finance to ensure transparency and accountability in national infrastructure programs. – Photo credit: Presidential Communications Office
MANILA — On September 15, 2025, Malacañang formalized the lineup of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) with the oath-taking of Ex-Supreme Court Justice Andres B. Reyes Jr. as chairperson; Rogelio “Babes” Singson, former DPWH secretary; Rossana A. Fajardo, country managing partner of SGV & Co.; and Baguio City Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong as special adviser. The oath was administered before Court of Appeals Justice Pedro Corales. With the ceremony, the ICI formally began its mandate to probe alleged anomalies in flood-control projects spanning the last decade.
The commission was established through Executive Order No. 94, signed by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on September 11. The order created an independent fact-finding body with powers to summon officials, access government records, and recommend administrative or criminal cases for prosecution.
Mandate and scope
The ICI’s authority extends to infrastructure projects carried out over the past ten years, with a particular focus on flood-control programs flagged for overpricing, “ghost” contracts, and substandard works. The body is required to submit monthly progress reports to the President.
Although investigative rather than prosecutorial, the commission may endorse cases to the Office of the Ombudsmanand the Department of Justice, while also recommending systemic reforms to strengthen transparency and accountability in public works.
Developments and government stance
President Marcos has vowed that “no one will be spared” in the inquiry, adding that even political allies or relatives will not be shielded from investigation. He has suspended the 2026 flood-control budget until the ICI delivers its findings.
More than 16,000 citizen complaints submitted through the “Sumbong sa Pangulo” platform will also be turned over to the ICI for review. Malacañang has expressed support for legislation that would expand the commission’s powers and institutionalize its role in infrastructure oversight.
Parallel inquiries
The commission’s work runs alongside the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s ongoing probe into alleged fraudulent flood-control projects. Senators have said the ICI is intended to complement—not replace—congressional investigations.
Accountability push
Marcos ordered the commission’s creation after internal audits revealed that billions of pesos in flood-control allocations since 2022 were either misused or left unaccounted for. Thousands of projects were found incomplete, substandard, or non-existent despite funding.
