The corruption plaguing the Philippines’ flood control projects is far larger in scale than the infamous Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam that shocked the nation more than a decade ago, Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon declared on Thursday.
Speaking in an interview with ANC, Dizon said the depth of irregularities in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) was unprecedented. “This [flood control scheme] is a corruption on a scale that we have not seen in the past,” he remarked. “The Napoles scandal is like petty change compared to this.”
The PDAF scam, allegedly orchestrated by businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles with the involvement of lawmakers, was said to have diverted at least P10 billion of public funds through fake non-governmental organizations.
In contrast, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. disclosed in August that about 15 contractors cornered P100 billion worth of projects—roughly 20 percent of 10,000 flood control initiatives—from July 2022 to May 2025. Alarmingly, more than half of these projects reportedly lacked specific details on the structures being built, raising suspicions of widespread anomalies.
The President’s revelation prompted multiple probes that uncovered alleged “ghost projects” and a system of pay-offs linking contractors, politicians, and DPWH officials. Investigators have since described the scheme as a well-entrenched network that drained billions from the government’s infrastructure budget.
Dizon admitted he was “overwhelmed” by the extent of corruption within the agency. “It’s a deeply seated problem that has been there for decades,” he said. “I can’t do this alone. I need people to help me… It will be difficult and will take time to cleanse the DPWH.”
The secretary revealed that the department was preparing to file complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman against DPWH personnel and contractors implicated in the anomalies. He characterized the corruption as nothing less than “a massive theft of people’s money.”
Dizon emphasized the importance of accountability, warning that unless those involved are punished, similar schemes will continue to flourish. “Every individual in this syndicate must be held responsible,” he stressed.
The unfolding scandal has drawn comparisons to past corruption cases, but according to Dizon, the staggering sums involved and the breadth of the network make the flood control scandal one of the most damaging to public trust in recent years.