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Helen Flores - The Philippine Star
December 28, 2025 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,” was how Malacañang described the year 2025 for the country and for President Marcos.
Dickens’ expression aside, flood control anomalies dominated headlines this year, with no less than the President himself exposing large-scale corruption in government infrastructure projects. The revelation triggered widespread protests, which spooked investors and hampered the country’s economic momentum.
“Mahiya naman kayo,” was Marcos’ strong message during his fourth State of the Nation Address last July to corrupt public officials behind irregularities that brought suffering to communities in flood-hit areas.
According to the Palace, Marcos was the first Philippine president to expose and pursue actions against corruption, adding that good governance and accountability became defining pillars of his administration.
The multibillion-peso flood control scandal has implicated several lawmakers, including the President’s close allies and public works officials.
The controversy has sparked public outrage, sending thousands to streets to demand transparency and accountability, with some even calling for Marcos’ resignation.
Almost a month after his annual address to the nation, Marcos launched the Sumbong sa Pangulo website, where the public can report non-operational or anomalous flood control projects in their areas.
Thousands of reports were received through the website, which Malacañang said were personally read by the President.
The Chief Executive would later launch the Department of Public Works and Highways Transparency Portal.
In August, Marcos also revealed the names of 15 contractors who bagged 20 percent of P545 billion worth of flood control projects nationwide since July 2022. They include companies owned by controversial contractors Curlee and Sarah Discaya and Sunwest Inc., linked to fugitive former lawmaker Zaldy Co.
In September, Marcos established the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to investigate infrastructure projects suspected of being tainted with corruption in the last 10 years.
The body, created through Marcos’ Executive Order No. 94, is headed by retired Supreme Court associate justice Andres Reyes Jr., with former public works secretary Rogelio Singson and SGV and Co. country managing partner Rossana Fajardo as members.
Singson resigned from ICI effective Dec. 15, citing stress and “security risks.” Malacañang has yet to name Singson’s replacement. Fajardo too will step down by year-end.
Retired police general Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong had a brief stint with the ICI as special adviser and investigator. He would also later quit and be replaced by former Philippine National Police chief Rodolfo Azurin Jr. Former Supreme Court spokesman Brian Keith Hosaka was named ICI executive director.
Zaldy’s video tale
From his hiding place abroad, Co would release videos on social media implicating Marcos and the latter’s cousin, former speaker Martin Romualdez, in alleged insertion of P100 billion in the 2025 national budget. Co remains in hiding and is believed to be in Portugal.
Marcos and the general public have shrugged off Co’s video allegations. Meanwhile, he accepted the resignation of DPWH Manuel Bonoan and fired other officials of the department.
His executive secretary Lucas Bersamin and budget secretary Amenah Pangandaman would also leave his Cabinet, after they were linked to questionable budget insertions.
The President acknowledged the growing public frustration over the flood control scandal, even voicing support for peaceful anti-corruption protests.
Marcos said his administration would continue to pursue criminal cases against all those involved in flood control irregularities, and no individual found culpable would be spared.
Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Dave Gomez earlier said the ombudsman is expected to file more cases before the Sandiganbayan, after the first one filed last Nov. 18 against Co and 15 others for a substandard flood control project in Oriental Mindoro.
Sarah Discaya is also facing charges of graft and malversation over the P96.5-million “ghost” flood control projects in Davao Occidental. She is currently detained in Lapu-Lapu, Cebu.
In a podcast interview in October, Marcos stressed the need to build airtight cases against those who benefited from the anomalies.
“Look, what will happen: we rushed it, the evidence is not complete, our evidence is unclear, but we forced it. The case is dismissed. Can you imagine? I think that would be much, much worse,” the Chief Executive stressed.
“A lousy flood control project that collapsed during the flood, that killed a family. I mean, how can you live with that? … So, I – we’ll keep pushing (for prosecution),” he said.
Marcos said he exposed irregularities in flood control projects not for political reasons but because he cannot allow “deeply entrenched” corruption to continue.
Big fish
Malacañang also assured the public that high-level personalities implicated in the flood control anomalies would be charged and arrested.
“More cases will be filed in the next few days and we are certain that will include the [so-called] big fish,” Gomez said in a radio interview early this month.
In his speech before members of the Malacañang Press Corps on Dec. 4, Marcos likened the administration’s ongoing reforms against corruption to a major cancer surgery. The country “may be bleeding now, but we will also heal very, very quickly,” he said.
Side by side with anti-corruption efforts, Marcos has also advanced health and education reforms.
Marcos personally inspected the implementation of the zero-balance billing policy, ensuring that patients admitted to basic or ward accommodations in Department of Health-listed hospitals would have their medical expenses fully covered.
According to the PCO, more than one million Filipinos have benefited from the policy designed to ease the financial burden on patients and improve health care access in the country.
In education, Marcos signed the Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program Act, enabling working professionals to earn college degrees through the recognition of prior learning and work experience.
The administration also fast-tracked the delivery of laptops, digital learning tools and satellite internet to public schools, especially in underserved areas.
Marcos has ordered the strengthening and expansion of the Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education to provide financial support to more deserving college students.
Executive Secretary Ralph Recto earlier assured Filipinos of “a better and stronger” Philippine economy next year as the government continues its anti-corruption drive and maintains investors’ confidence in the country.
