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February 3, 2026 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — Wishing to “move forward” from the flood control scam that has slowed economic growth, President Marcos ordered agencies to immediately pay the contractors who delivered on their obligations, to ensure quality services from those carrying out state projects.
Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said Marcos made the directive during last Friday’s meeting with the economic team, wherein he also emphasized the importance of ensuring that government projects are sound.
“The order of the President is to immediately pay the contractors who did well in the execution of the projects. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is firm on hisstance that it’s time to uplift the economy despite leading the investigation into the widespread abuse of public funds,” the Palace press officer said at a briefing yesterday.
“In his meeting with the economic team, the President urged the Cabinet to move forward. The President also gave a directive for secretaries to ensure that the agencies are focused on ensuring the speedy and proper implementation of infrastructure projects. This is to ensure that Filipinos will benefit from each project,” she added.
According to Castro, the President is convinced that the faster the contractors are paid, the better the services they would provide.
“There is also a need for a good connection between the national and local governments to oversee and complete the infrastructure projects,” she said.
Castro said the agriculture department has intensified its monitoring of farm-to-market road projects to ensure that the farmers and fisherfolk would really benefit from lower production costs.
The Bureau of Agricultural and Fisheries Engineering is watching over the progress of farm-to-market roads to ensure their adherence to engineering standards, she added.
The Philippine economy posted a slower-than-expected 4.4 percent growth in 2025 partly because of concerns over the multibillion-peso flood control controversy, which saw some officials and contractors earn kickbacks from substandard and ghost projects.
Officials have expressed optimism that the country would attain a “better” economic growth following reforms aimed at curbing corruption and luring investments.
Castro said Marcos’ instructions about moving forward and paying the performing contractors were in line with the efforts to grow the economy and strengthen the industries involved in infrastructure.
“The President wants it done as soon as possible. The papers should be completed, once they see that there are no problems in the projects, they should be paid,” she added.
Marcos ordered a probe into subpar and non-existent flood control projects during his fourth State of the Nation Address last July, citing the need to expose the truth about the anomalies and to hold into account those who “stole the future” of disaster-hit communities.
DOJ probes Bong, Jinggoy, Bonoan
Meanwhile, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has started the preliminary investigation into the plunder complaints filed against Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, former senator Ramon Revilla Jr. and former public works secretary Manuel Bonoan, among others, in connection with alleged irregularities in flood control projects.
According to DOJ spokesman Polo Martinez, the hearing yesterday was specifically for the receipt of the complaint and documents filed by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
Martinez said the appearance of the respondents was not required as they did not yet need to file their counter-affidavits. He also said the panel of prosecutors allowed the NBI to submit additional supporting documents until Feb. 12.
“They (respondents) are scheduled to appear at the next scheduled hearing (on Feb. 12) for the submission of their counter-affidavits,” he told reporters.
Only two respondents appeared before the panel of prosecutors yesterday: Bonoan and former Bulacan 1st district engineer Henry Alcantara.
In a separate interview, Bonoan said he intends to stay in the country to answer the allegations against him, stressing he is not involved in any anomaly.
“I have to study it first, actually. These have something to do with the allocations for members of the Senate. I have to study it very well. Plunder is quite serious,” he said.
“We’ll try to look into all these allegations being hurled. Certainly, I’m sure they will be answered,” he added.
Martinez said the plunder case against former Ako Bicol party-list congressman Zaldy Co still has “pending incidents so it’s still under investigation.”
He said the DOJ does not need to wait for Co, who is at large, to appear before them for the proceedings to continue.
