Cebu Mayors Request Transparency: End to Secretive Negotiations

In a joint statement, forty-nine mayors and city mayors from Cebu Province, excluding Danao City, have called for transparency and accountability in flood control and infrastructure projects worth P350 billion. The mayors' statement, issued by the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP)-Cebu Chapter, includes the cities of Bogo, Talisay, Naga, Carcar, and Toledo.

The demand comes amidst concerns over the status of major undertakings such as the Parañaque Spillway and Laguna de Bay dredging, which remain incomplete despite the massive allocation for flood control projects. Since 2024, the Marcos administration has launched more than 5,500 flood control projects, with at least P500 billion in funding spread over 13 years.

Public safety, resource priorities, and political accountability are at stake in the ongoing investigation of corruption in flood control and infrastructure projects. The mayors of Cebu Province took a stand to align with national calls for reform, show accountability to their constituents, and address delays or poor implementation in their province.

Danao City is the lone local government unit (LGU) that did not sign the statement, and its mayor, Ramon "Nito" Durano III, has yet to release a public statement to explain his side.

The Commission on Audit's fraud audit may lead to charges and blacklisting of erring firms. One such firm under scrutiny is QM Builders, a Cebu-based contractor that has earned P7.38 billion from 93 flood control contracts and has a reported paid-up capital of only P1.25 million. Questions about potential corruption have been raised, particularly regarding the allocation of funds and the quality of work.

QM Builders has defended itself, stating it complied with all legal and procedural requirements and won its contracts through open, competitive bidding. However, the mayors demanded accountability for officials and contractors if corruption allegations are proven true, including removal from office and prosecution.

The mayors framed the issue as more than financial theft, stating that corruption in flood control is also "a theft of safety, dignity, and hope." They called for the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and other agencies to disclose project lists, contractors, programs of work, and feasibility studies.

Experts argue that government flood control efforts are flawed, with projects often shifting floodwaters from one area to another, lacking a comprehensive national flood control plan, and some projects even worsening flooding. Transparency in infrastructure spending has become a matter of survival, as billions are at stake and flooding remains a recurring threat.

The mayors support President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s pledge to investigate alleged irregularities in government flood control and infrastructure programs. Most mayors from Cebu supported Marcos' anti-corruption campaign in flood control projects because they believed it would ensure transparency, expedite project completion, and effectively address the region's recurring flooding problems.

The question now is whether national agencies will open their books in response to the pressure for transparency and accountability. More Senate hearings are expected, with possible revelations about contractors and politicians benefiting from the system. Allegations of corruption include the existence of "ghost projects" funded but never built, substandard work from contractors engaged in "license renting," and monopolized contracts concentrated among a handful of favored firms, cornering about P100 billion.

Cebu Province has experienced flooding in coastal towns and river systems, disrupting communities and local economies. The mayors' joint statement follows a public call for accountability from the group Mayors for Good Governance on Aug. 16. The Marcos administration faces pressure to deliver results, not just veto questionable projects, but also prosecute those responsible.