📷: ICI Inspection Reveals Structural Failure in Davao Flood Control Project.
ACT Teachers Rep. and Deputy Minority Leader Antonio Tinio hit back at Rep. Paolo “Pulong” Duterte’s dare to visit Davao, asserting that the P4.35 billion flood control scandal isn’t political theater, it’s grounded in hard data from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) itself.
“Congressman Duterte seems to have missed the point entirely. The data I presented showing 80 out of 121 contracts worth P4.35 billion with serious red flags came from the DPWH’s own records, their website, and official budget documents. We simply analyzed and cross-checked what the government’s own data revealed,” Tinio stated.
Adding fuel to the fire, Tinio cited findings from the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), which uncovered a collapsed flood control structure along the Davao River in Matina Gravahan, just eight months after its completion in May 2023. ICI Special Adviser Rodolfo Azurin Jr. flagged possible use of substandard materials and called for a full contract review.
The lawmaker cited Azurin’s statement: “I think we have to review the contract so that we can determine what sanctions we can impose on the contractors as well as those who supposedly implemented the project.”
“So Congressman Duterte says these projects were inspected and validated by DPWH and COA, yet an inspection team led by Azurin and ICI advisor Mayor Magalong found a collapsed project and is now questioning the materials used and calling for contract reviews and sanctions. Sino ba ang dapat paniwalaan?” Tinio asked.
Tinio emphasized that his exposé identified five categories of serious irregularities: total overlap (P135.14 million), double funding (P115.09 million), changed location and shortchanging (P484.04 million), contracts without proper specifications (P3.44 billion), and contracts not in the approved budget (P622.57 million).
“Congressman Duterte invites me to walk the riverbanks and see the projects. But the question is not simply whether structures exist—the question is whether the right structures were built in the right locations, whether they were built to specifications, whether they can withstand flooding, and whether P4.35 billion in public funds was spent properly or pocketed by contractors and corrupt officials,” Tinio declared.
He also named politically connected firms repeatedly flagged in the data: ALFREGO BUILDERS, owned by Senator Bong Go’s half-brother Alfredo Go, partnered with RELY CONSTRUCTION (P96.5 million), and GENESIS88, whose owner Glenn Escandor donated to VP Sara Duterte’s 2022 campaign.
“These are not baseless accusations or political drama. These are documented irregularities in DPWH’s own records involving billions in public funds and contractors with clear political ties to the Duterte family and their allies,” Tinio stressed.
The lawmaker announced he will file a House resolution next week calling for a congressional investigation and will also formally request the Commission on Audit (COA), the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), and the Office of the Ombudsman to conduct their own investigations.
“Congressman Duterte says Davao has nothing to hide. Good. Then he should welcome a full, transparent investigation of all flood control and infrastructure projects in his district. The Filipino people deserve answers about how P4.35 billion in public funds was spent—or misspent,” Tinio concluded.( ZIA LUNA)
pTEqhzEBMAvsPrRktdJ