Sen. Bato dela Rosa Speaks on Flood Control Probe
BATO DELA ROSA – The Senator wants the flood control investigation to proceed despite of the claim of controversial contractor Sarah Discaya during a Senate hearing.
Countless Filipinos were left disappointed by the anomalous flood control projects in the different regions in the Philippines. Unfortunately, despite the government having spent billions on flood control deals, several areas across the nation frequently experience flooding most especially when heavy rains hit the country for several days.
The history of the country already holds several records of tropical storms causing deep flooding that led not only to the damage in properties but as well as the loss of lives. There are areas in the country that when hit by a typhoon, the floodwater can rise to the level of submerging household.
Previously, in a press conference, Pres. Bongbong Marcos tagged it as an “enormous” amount after exposing that the Philippines has spent over P500-billion already for the flood control projects since July 2022 until May 2025.
Furthermore, Pres. Bongbong Marcos also claimed that five (5) contractors have secured government flood control deals in almost all regions across the nation. According to the Chief Executive, here are the 15 contractors that got almost 20% of the total P545-billion worth government flood control projects:
- Legacy Construction Corporation
- Alpha & Omega Gen. Contractor & Development Corp.
- St. Timothy Construction Corporation
- QM Builders
- EGB Construction Corporation
- Topnotch Catalyst Builders Inc.
- Centerways Construction and Development Inc.
- Sunwest, Inc.
- Hi-Tone Construction & Development Corp.
- Triple 8 Construction & Supply, Inc.
- Royal Crown Monarch Construction & Supplies Corp.
- Wawao Builders
- MG Samidan Construction
- L.R. Tiqui Builders, Inc.
- Road Edge Trading & Development Services
The Senate launched its own investigation amid the issue of anomalous flood control projects in the Philippines. The probe is led by Blue Ribbon Committee chaired by Senator Rodante Marcoleta.
Following the absence of several contractors during the first Senate flood probe, the upper chamber moved to subpoena the following contractors to urge them to attend the September 1 hearing and shed light on the issue:
- Mr. Luisito R. Tiqui, President of L.R. Tiqui Builders, Inc.
- Ms. Cezarah C. Discaya, President of Alpha and Omega Gen. Contractor & Development Corporation
- Mr. Lawrence R. Lubiano, President of Centerways Construction and Development Inc.
- Mr. Edgar S. Acosta, President of Hi-Tone Construction & Development Corp.
- Ms. Marjorie O. Samidan, authorized managing officer of MG Samidan Construction
- Mr. Romeo C. Miranda, President of Royal Crown Monarch Construction & Supplies Corp.
- Ms. Ma. Roma Angeline D. Rimando. President of St. Timothy Construction Corporation
- Ms. Aderma Angelie D. Alcazar, President/CEO of Sunwest, Inc.
- Mr. Eumir S. Villanueva, President of Topnotch Catalyst Builders Inc.
- Mr. Mark Allan V. Arevalo, General Manager of Wawao Builders
During the Senate flood probe, Sen. Bato dela Rosa was one of those who questioned controversial contractor Sarah Discaya. She is the president of the Alpha and Omega Gen. Contractor & Development Corporation who admitted to owning nine (9) construction firms. The Senator asked when her companies started getting government contracts.
Sen. Bato dela Rosa was seemingly left speechless after Sarah Discaya claimed that her companies began securing government deals in 2016. It was also the time when the term of former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte started. The reaction of the Senator earned a lot of mocking comments from the netizens.
Following the reactions of the netizens, recently, Sen. Bato dela Rosa asserted that the investigation into the alleged anomalies in the flood control deals funded by the government should continue. Based on a post of Inquirer, he also stressed that the ones responsible for the anomalies should be held accountable.
“So what kung 2016? Kung gumawa sila ng kalokohan nung panahon na ‘yon dapat imbestigahan. Pera ng bayan ‘yan e,” Dela Rosa said.
Previously, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte claimed that the flood control corruption allegedly already existed before the term of former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte.