Lacson: P118.5B Economic Loss from Ghost Flood Projects a Bigger Crime if Culprits Remain Unpunished

It’s bad enough that the economy has lost some P118.5 billion due to ghost flood control projects since 2023, but the much bigger crime is letting the culprits remain unpunished, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Wednesday.

Lacson was referring to estimates cited by Department of Finance Secretary Ralph Recto indicating the ghost flood control projects cost the economy P118.5 billion or the equivalent of up to 266,000 jobs.

“With the DOF’s mind-boggling estimated economic loss of P118.5 billion due to ‘ghost’ flood control projects, if those responsible go unpunished, the government may be committing a bigger crime against the Filipino people,” Lacson said in a post on X.

In Filipino: Lacson: P118.5B Luging Dulot ng Ghost Flood Projects, Mas Malaking Krimen Kung Walang Mananagot

At the briefing with the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) on the proposed P6.793-trillion 2026 national budget Tuesday, Recto bared that ghost flood control projects cost our economy between P42.3 billion and P118.5 billion from 2023 to 2025.

Recto said that while raising revenues is “no joke,” it is dismaying that the revenues do not go to the projects that will benefit Filipinos.

Earlier, Lacson bared that more than P1.9 trillion had been appropriated to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) alone from 2011 to 2025. Yet, he noted floods continue to plague Filipinos.

Lacson, who detailed the corruption behind the anomalous flood control projects in a privilege speech last Aug. 20, stressed the need to ensure that there is certainty of punishment against those involved – including prosecution, conviction, and imprisonment.

“If no one is punished accordingly, this will encourage many to engage in corruption because they can get away with it,” he said.

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Lacson: P118.5B Luging Dulot ng Ghost Flood Projects, Mas Malaking Krimen Kung Walang Mananagot

Isang malaking krimen ang pagkalugi ng ekonomiya na aabot sa P118.5 bilyon dahil sa ghost flood control projects sa nakaraang tatlong taon, nguni’t higit na mas mabigat na krimen ang ang hindi pagparusa sa mga sangkot dito, ayon kay Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson nitong Miyerkules.

Tinukoy ni Lacson ang pagtataya ni DOF Secretary Ralph Recto na ang mga ghost flood control projects ay nagdulot ng P118.5 bilyon na lugi sa ekonomiya – katumbas ng hanggang 266,000 trabaho.

“With the DOF’s mind-boggling estimated economic loss of P118.5 billion due to ‘ghost’ flood control projects, if those responsible go unpunished, the government may be committing a bigger crime against the Filipino people,” ani Lacson sa X.

Sa briefing ng Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) kaugnay ng panukalang P6.793-trilyong pambansang budget para sa 2026 noong Martes, ibinunyag ni Recto na ang ghost flood control projects ay nagdulot ng lugi sa ekonomiya na nasa pagitan ng P42.3 bilyon hanggang P118.5 bilyon mula 2023 hanggang 2025.

Ani Recto, nakakadismaya na habang napakahirap magkalap ng kita para sa gobyerno, hindi pala ito napupunta sa mga proyektong dapat magdulot ng pakinabang sa mga Pilipino.

Nauna nang ibinunyag ni Lacson na mahigit P1.9 trilyon ang inilaan sa Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) mula 2011 hanggang 2025. Gayunman, patuloy pa ring nararanasan ng mga Pilipino ang pagbaha.

Muling iginiit ni Lacson, na naglatag ng mga katiwalian sa mga anomalya sa flood control projects sa kanyang talumpati noong Agosto 20, na dapat siguraduhin na may “certainty of punishment” laban sa mga sangkot – kabilang ang pagsampa ng kaso, paghatol, at pagkulong.

“Pag walang nakikitang napaparusahan ang logical conclusion, mae-encourage pa yan sa nagmamasid sasabihin nila lumulusot naman, tayo na rin,” ani Lacson.

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