• CHRYSEE G. SAMILLANO
While the initial investigation conducted by the Council of Concerned Citizens (C3) Bacolod on Monday found no ghost projects in Bacolod City, questions remain on the design integrity, bidding process, contractor accountability, and the true necessity of some flood control projects in the city.
In a statement dated September 22, C3 Bacolod lead convenor Fr. Aniceto “Mao” Buenafe, said the Council of Concerned Citizens started to conduct its independent investigative mission Monday, to make true their commitment to make the culprits in fraudulent flood control and other public infrastructure projects accountable and brought to trial, while advancing good governance and transparency.
Buenafe said that from 2017 to 2025, Bacolod City was allocated P4,283,707,995 for flood control projects. Across Negros Island, 138 flood control projects worth an estimated P11 billion are on record. These figures demand rigorous inspection and honest reporting.
Inspectorate members of C3 Bacolod, accompanied by representatives from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the Office of the Mayor of Bacolod, and the Office of the Lone District of Bacolod, conducted the first on-site inspection of four completed projects Monday: Lupit River (Phase 7) with project cost of P96.5 million; revetment with floodwall, Loygoy River (Phase 1) – P91.6 million; revetment with floodwall, Ngalan River – P96.5 million; and revetment with floodwall, Bakyas Creek – P96.5 million. All four projects were reported to be completed in 2024.
Buenafe said their investigation showed that the legality of the contractors’ joint ventures cannot be verified as special licenses and joint venture agreement (JVA) documents are unavailable. If subcontracted by royalty arrangements, accountability extends to both the contractors and DPWH.
Agencies such as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the City Government must also be held accountable for the apparent non-observance of standard river easements in these projects, he said.
The findings highlight broader issues that go beyond physical existence of projects, he added.
As of this press time, CCC Bacolod has been receiving numerous queries and conjectures from various sectors, with the public demanding quick and clear answers, Buenafe said.
The people of Bacolod and Negros deserve genuine transparency, authentic competitive bidding, and full accountability for every peso spent, he said.
C3 Bacolod will secure and review all project records from DPWH, including contracts, programs of work, and bills of quantities; as well as conduct further site inspections across Bacolod and Negros Occidental; and publish evidence-based reports to the public to ensure that accountability and transparency are upheld, Buenafe added.*
