Group reveals among FCP contractors was BBM’s campaign donor
BAGONG Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) called for an immediate probe into flood control projects in Cebu province that failed to prevent destructive deluges as Typhoon Tino pounded the Visayas region.
With casualties breaching more than a hundred in the province alone, BAYAN said it is urgent that investigations are conducted to look into the status of flood control projects in the entire island province.
The province has declared a state of emergency, reporting 111 deaths as of Thursday morning.
BAYAN said the flooding in Cebu’s upland areas could be linked to the denudation of forestland, land-use conversion, and the massive construction of real estate projects.
“The investigation should follow the paper and money trail involving public officials who issued permits for these destructive policies and projects, including those with business ties to extractive and real estate companies operating in the city and nearby towns,” BAYAN said in a statement.
The group’s demand followed earlier revelations by the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas that pointed at massive and unchecked quarrying operations in several Cebu municipalities the farmers said blocked rivers and prevented rain waters from swiftly draining into the sea due to heavy siltation.
[READ] KMP: Cebu’s worst flooding caused by unchecked quarrying, corruption
BAYAN said flooding victims are questioning whether flood control projects were properly implemented.
Cebu bagged 414 flood control projects worth 26 billion pesos in recent years.
“Despite billions allocated for flood control under the Duterte and Marcos administrations, communities were still inundated with raging floodwaters,” BAYAN said.
Contractor was BBM’s campaign donor
The cities of Talisay and Cebu had 21 and 47 flood control projects alone, BAYAN revealed.
BAYAN cited data from the “Sumbong Mo Sa Pangulo” website its president Renato Reyes Jr. said fails to list other Cebu flood control projects funded from the president’s so-called unprogrammed appropriations.
Talisay got more than P2 billion worth of funds, mostly going to either QM Builders or Quirante Construction Corporation, whose owners are reportedly related.
Jonathan Quirante of Quirante Construction was reported as a campaign donor of Marcos Jr. amounting to P1 million pesos.
Quirante Construction saw its total solo and joint contracts go from P2 billion in 2022 to P3 billion in 2023—a billion-peso increase in just one year after the election, BAYAN further revealed.
“This is but a fraction of the 414 flood control projects worth P26.6 billion that went to Cebu province. All that funding for flood control while Cebu experiences its worst flooding in recent times,” Reyes said.
“The private contractors, DPWH officials and lawmakers responsible for these projects, and Marcos himself who was a recipient of campaign donations from the contractor, should all be investigated and made answerable to the people of Talisay, Cebu,” he added.
Nov. 30 protest must be bigger, wider
BAYAN said it calls for accountability as “it has become clear that the flooding disaster in Cebu is caused by bureaucrat-capitalist greed.”
“Politicians and officials collude with companies responsible for large-scale logging and environmental destruction, while corrupt bureaucrats are involved in the misuse of funds intended for flood control,” it said.
The group said that the Cebu flooding highlights the “disastrous governance under the Marcos Jr. presidency.”
“Development aggression and corruption impunity became a deadly mix that left a trail of massive destruction in Cebu. This impunity is deliberate,” BAYAN said.
The country’s umbrella of activist organizations pointed out it is the same impunity that allows billions in confidential funds to disappear without a trace, the same impunity that protects logging permits and mining operations that strip the mountains bare, the same impunity that enables contractors to pocket public funds while delivering death traps disguised as infrastructure.
“This should serve as a lesson that the continued delay and slow pace in holding corrupt officials accountable is wreaking havoc in the lives of our people. There should be a comprehensive audit of all flood control, disaster preparedness, and infrastructure projects, with criminal charges filed against those who profited from corruption,” Bayan demanded.
READ: Bonifacio Day anti-corruption rally to demand accountability from BBM, Sara
BAYAN is among the formations organizing the massive nationwide anti-corruption protests on November 30, Bonifacio Day.
Organizers of the September 21 Baha sa Luneta protest initiated the Kilusang Bayan Kontra Kurakot which includes people’s organizations, institutions, and communities mobilizing against corruption across the country.
Dubbed the Protestang Bayan Kontra Kurakot, the upcoming protest in Manila will again be held at Rizal Park to call for accountability against the large-scale and systematic corruption in the government.
It is expected to gather at least 100,000 people with the banner call of “Lahat ng sangkot, dapat managot!” and “Marcos singilin! Duterte panagutin!” # (Raymund B. Villanueva)
