September has turned into a surprise Halloween prelude for Filipinos—waking up to the horrifying truths of government flood-control projects that turn into mere ghost schemes.
In the past few weeks, the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee has laid bare how billions of public funds were siphoned off by government contractors Sarah and Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya. However, the controversial couple reshifted the angle on a Sept. 8 hearing, naming several House lawmakers and public works officials.
They alleged that they were forced to kick back these officials by joining anomalous biddings and handing money to secure projects. Such revelations call, if not immediate, a thorough investigation to more hidden anomalies surrounding ghost and substandard flood infrastructure works.
According to the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ), the government funded nearly 9,855 flood-control projects worth over ₱545 billion between July 2022 and May 2025. This sparks public outrage as more communities in the country remain exposed to flooding hazards despite massive government spending.
The PCIJ reported that some of these projects exist only on paper or are undervalued relative to more vulnerable flood-prone areas in Mindanao which received disproportionately low funding compared to Metro Manila and Central Luzon.
Moreover, around 60-percent of funds are lost in the air, which early investigations linked it to commissions of government officials and contractors with poor performance records or questionable backgrounds, including the Discayas, whose companies received ₱25.2 billion worth of contracts implicated in substandard structural work and tax evasion.
But Pacifico Discaya denied these allegations, revealing that he and his wife only earn 2 to 3-percent, 5 if they are lucky, from the flood-control contracts they won. Pasig City mayor Vico Sotto slammed the couple, tracing inconsistencies in their previous statements before the committee where they claim to be billionaires with “11 digits” in their pockets.
In essence, these inconsistencies and shifting of narratives might expose the couple’s attempt to deceive and manipulate the flood-control scandal. Their testimonies prompted the blue ribbon committee to guarantee their protection under the state witness program, but should not be mistaken by the Senate for their absolution.
Rather, senators must continue to work on unraveling the networks of collusion between the lawmakers, public works officials, contractors, and others involved in plundering public funds for their political gain and personal interest.
The Weekly Sillimanian calls for a stronger investigation into the systemic issues enabling corruption in government projects, and to lawfully penalize public officials for misusing public funds, entering disadvantageous government contracts, and accepting bribes or kickbacks under the Republic Act No. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
This scandal is not just about phantom projects or wasted funds, but a stark warning that the very mechanisms meant to shield Filipinos from disaster have now become deadly traps set by those hands who are sworn to safeguard them—turning government projects into a haunting nightmare.
