Flood Control or Flood Trap? Lacson Uncovers Shoddy Work!

Manila, Philippines - Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson has blown the lid off a shady new racket allegedly run by some members of Congress who own—or have relatives running—construction businesses.

The scheme? A sneaky “passing through” fee that bleeds contractors dry before a single cement bag is poured.

According to Lacson, contractors are forced to pay a hefty 5% to 6% cut of the project cost just to work in a district where the congressman—or his kin—controls the construction scene.

“It’s like paying a toll to the king of the district,” Lacson told a radio interview Sunday. “Once that fee is taken, the project budget shrinks right away. And believe me, the Department of Public Works and Highways knows all about it.”

But the passing-through toll is just the start. Lacson’s research shows that when you pile on commissions, taxes, and other under-the-table demands, up to 40% of project funds vanish—long before the project even starts.

“How will the contractor recover? By cutting corners. That means substandard work and the government gets shortchanged,” he warned.

Lacson revealed that some flood control projects use sheet piles driven only 50 meters deep instead of 150—a disaster waiting to happen.

“The dike collapses because it’s not anchored deep enough. They save money on materials that you can’t even see,” he said.

In other cases, gravel in the dike’s foundation is replaced with plain sand. “When a typhoon hits and the river overflows, it gets washed away easily. The foundation has no grip,” Lacson said.

With the passing-through fee eating into their profits, contractors end up with just 10% profit instead of the usual 15%—and taxpayers are left with flood-prone, crumbling infrastructure.