MANILA — Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Monday called for a whole-of-government approach to address the growing number of anomalous and substandard infrastructure projects linked to Discaya-owned firms, warning that the problem has become too vast for the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI)to handle alone.

“At the rate the number of substandard, uncompleted and even ghost infrastructure projects being attributed to the Discaya-owned firms keeps piling up, the ICI may not be able to cope with the complexity and enormity of the problem at hand,” Lacson said.

He cited the uncertainty among residents of Provident Village in Marikina City, where alleged defects in the Marikina dike—constructed by a Discaya-owned company—have raised safety concerns. An Inquirer.net investigative report earlier revealed that the dike cracked barely a year after construction, prompting repairs and public alarm.

To address the issue, Lacson said Congress and the executive branch should reinforce the ICI with additional personnel, logistical support, and legal powers through legislation.

“Hence, the national government, including Congress must reinforce the Commission with adequate personnel and logistical resources, even additional legal power and authority by way of legislation so they can accomplish their assigned tasks,” he said.

The ICI reported that among 29,800 flood control projects built between 2016 and 2024, 421 were found to be ghost projects — 261 in Luzon, 109 in Visayas, and 51 in Mindanao. ICI executive director Brian Keith Hosaka said the commission plans to refer 15 to 20 cases to the Office of the Ombudsman within the month.

Lacson, who has previously exposed widespread corruption in flood control projects in his privilege speeches in August and September, said the government must ensure accountability at all levels.

“It goes without saying, if we really intend to prosecute, convict and recover their loot including their cohorts in Congress and the Department of Public Works and Highways and other implementing agencies similarly responsible for these unprecedented misuse and abuse of public funds, a whole-of-government approach is extremely necessary, not later, but now,” he said.