MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. expressed anger after finding that a flood control project in Baliuag, Bulacan, had not been started despite full payment of more than PhP55 million to the contractor.

“I’m more than disappointed. I’m actually getting very angry. This is what’s happening here. I’m not disappointed, I’m angry,” Marcos said after inspecting the supposed 220-meter reinforced concrete riverwall project in Purok 4, Barangay Piel.

The President ordered an investigation into the “ghost” project and directed the filing of charges for falsification and economic sabotage.

“Kitang-kita naman na hindi completed. So, immediately, that’s a falsification. That’s already a very big violation,” he said. “And for the big ones, talagang I’m thinking very hard – pipilahan natin sila ng economic sabotage because economic sabotage is very clear.”

Marcos said records from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) indicated that the project was completed and fully paid, but his inspection revealed otherwise.

“Walang ginawa, kahit isang araw hindi nagtrabaho. Wala. Wala kang makita. Puntahan ninyo, wala kayong makita kahit na ano. Tuloy-tuloy ang pagbaha doon sa kabila,” the President said.

He added that the project review is still trying to identify the contractor, citing multiple layers of subcontractors and missing documents.

Marcos said the failure to complete such projects deprived communities of critical infrastructure that could have helped mitigate flooding, improve irrigation, and support household water supply.

“In the meantime, we have to actually still build the flood control project,” he said.