PACC Joins Cebu Provincial Government in Validating ₱50-B Flood Control Projects (2016–2025)
Cebu Province, Philippines — The Philippine Anti-Corruption Czar (PACC) has formally announced its commitment to assist the Provincial Government of Cebu, under the leadership of Governor Pamela Baricuatro, in validating flood control projects in the province valued at more than ₱50 billion implemented between 2016 and 2025.
PACC Chairman Dr. Louie F. Ceniza, PhD said the initiative forms part of a broader, systematic, and evidence-based effort to determine whether massive public investments in flood control infrastructure genuinely benefited communities, effectively mitigated flooding risks, and complied with approved plans, technical standards, and policy objectives.
“I think roughly from 2016 to 2025, we’re talking about more than ₱50 billion worth of flood control projects in Cebu.”
— Dr. Louie F. Ceniza, PhD
Chairman Ceniza explained that PACC will conduct its independent investigation in close coordination with the Cebu Provincial Government. The validation will focus on the status, implementation, quality, and outcomes of flood control projects across the province.
The process will include:
- Comprehensive review of project documents
- On-site field inspections
- Technical and engineering assessments
- Evaluation of project effectiveness and impact
“We will have to look at the projects—whether they helped, whether they were detrimental, or whether they did not help at all. That is exactly what we are trying to determine.”
— Dr. Louie F. Ceniza, PhD
At this stage, PACC clarified that it has not yet identified how many projects may be anomalous, as the validation remains ongoing, impartial, and evidence-driven, and subject to further technical and legal review.
Call for Accountability After Deadly Flooding
The PACC’s intervention follows Governor Pamela Baricuatro’s strong public call for justice and accountability after what she described as Cebu’s deadliest flooding in recent years—an incident that claimed lives, displaced thousands of residents, and caused widespread damage despite billions of pesos allocated for flood control.
The Governor has called for closer scrutiny of more than ₱26 billion worth of flood control projects that allegedly failed to protect Cebuano communities. She also criticized the previous provincial administration for the lack of long-term, sustainable, and integrated flood mitigation solutions, including weak monitoring of quarry operations around the Central Cebu Protected Landscape (CCPL), the province’s primary watershed.
“Kaning flooding nato, this could have been prevented. How come wala ni nila nahimuan og paagi before? They have been here for years, decades, here in Cebu Province, unya nganong ingon ani ni? What happened to the flood control projects?”
— Governor Pamela Baricuatro
PACC Reaffirms Its Mandate
Chairman Ceniza reaffirmed that PACC’s mandate is rooted in transparency, accountability, and protection of public interest, especially in large-scale infrastructure projects funded by taxpayers’ money.
“This validation is not about politics. It is about truth, accountability, and justice for the people of Cebu. If public funds were wasted, misused, or projects were poorly implemented, the public deserves clear answers—and responsible parties must be held accountable.”
— Dr. Louie F. Ceniza, PhD
PACC said it will continue close coordination with concerned agencies, technical experts, and stakeholders, and will recommend appropriate legal, administrative, and policy actions based on the results of the validation—aimed at restoring public trust, strengthening institutional reforms, and ensuring lasting flood resilience for the people of Cebu.