Economist Winnie Monsod has urged a sweeping ban on lawmakers implicated in the multibillion-peso flood control projects scandal, stressing that politicians, not contractors, pocket the bigger share of corruption.
Her call comes amid a political rift between the Executive and the House of Representatives, as Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin fired back at lawmakers he accused of spinning the issue to “shift the blame for their own corruption and failures onto the Executive Branch.”
“Clean your house first,” Bersamin said, warning that the Cabinet will not tolerate attacks on its integrity or attempts to delay the budget process. He revealed that the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will revise its 2026 budget proposal to remove questionable flood project allocations, many of which have been tied to insertions.
“Why ban only the contractor when politicians get 25 to 31 percent per project, compared to just 10 percent for contractors?” Monsod asked, citing Senator Panfilo Lacson’s disclosures. “No new budget exists without their insertions. It’s sad—we are highly politicized and corrupt.”
The scandal involves ₱545 billion poured into flood projects since 2022, with many exposed as substandard, undocumented, or ghost projects. Lawmakers named in investigative reports include Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy Co (whose family firm Sunwest Inc. cornered ₱15.7 billion worth of contracts), Pampanga Rep. Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales Jr. (linked to AD Gonzales Construction), and Magbubukid Party-list Rep. Ferdie Beltran (tied to Fedstar Construction).
TIMELINE: FLOOD CONTROL PROJECTS SCANDAL
2022–2023 – Flood control budget balloons to ₱545 billion. Reports of substandard and ghost projects emerge.
2023 – Complaints mount as newly built flood structures collapse after heavy rains.
2024 – Sen. Panfilo Lacson exposes insertion-driven budgeting and kickback rates: lawmakers pocket 25–31%, contractors only 10%.
July 2025 – Lacson names contractors including Eddmari Construction, Silverwolves Corp., and Sunwest Inc.; accuses Rep. Arnan Panaligan (Oriental Mindoro) of cornering ₱10 billion in insertions.
August 2025 – PCIJ report links lawmakers to contractors: Rep. Elizaldy Co, Rep. Gonzales, Rep. Beltran, and members of the Revilla family.
September 2025 – Monsod calls for a ban on lawmakers involved. Bersamin escalates the row, telling the House to “clean your house first” as DPWH begins budget revisions.