Overview

• President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said public anger over alleged phony projects is justified and urged Filipinos to express grievances peacefully.
• He appointed former Supreme Court justice Andres Reyes to head a three-member independent body empowered to hold hearings and review evidence on past flood-control work.
• Marcos vowed that no one will be spared as testimony in Congress has implicated nearly 30 House members and public works officials in alleged cash payoffs.
• The administration scrapped all flood-control projects for 2026 with funds to be redirected to education, health, and agriculture, and DPWH chief Vince Dizon dismissed three Bulacan officials for misconduct.
• Officials cite heavy losses and irregularities, with the Finance Department estimating up to 118.5 billion pesos lost since 2023 and the president flagging concentrated awards and unbuilt projects from 545 billion pesos spent since 2022.