The Contractors in the Spotlight
The contractors are just the surface, and the deeper culpability lies with government officials and agencies.
The ongoing Senate investigation into alleged ghost projects in the government’s flood control program has put contractors in the spotlight. These firms are accused of pocketing millions for projects that either do not exist or remain unfinished. While the grilling of contractors makes headlines, focusing solely on them misses the bigger issue: the systemic corruption rooted in government agencies themselves.
Just the Tip of the Iceberg
The Senate’s interrogation of contractors may be seen as dealing only with the tip of the iceberg. The real iceberg is the entrenched network of corruption where agencies and lawmakers collaborate with business interests for mutual gain. This structural issue explains why scandals resurface year after year, despite repeated investigations.
Contractors as the Scapegoats
It is undeniable that contractors benefited from these questionable projects. Yet, in the Philippine political system, contractors do not hold real power. They cannot receive funding, secure permits, or gain access to multimillion-peso contracts without the approval, and often, the orchestration, of government officials. Contractors are, in effect, dependent players, operating only within the space granted by agencies like the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and legislators who control project allocations.
Why Contractors Alone Cannot Be the Culprits
Contractors do not draft budgets, control disbursement of funds, or authorize project implementation. Their role, while complicit, is secondary. As long as government officials provide the political cover, issue approvals, and release funds, contractors will always find ways to exploit opportunities. The more important question is: who provides them with these opportunities in the first place?
The Need for Accountability at the Top
If genuine reform is to happen, investigations must go beyond interrogating contractors. Accountability must extend to those in power: DPWH officials who certify ghost projects, legislators who insert them into the budget, and government watchdogs who fail to act. Without scrutinizing and punishing these higher-ups, investigations risk becoming political theater rather than a pursuit of justice.
The Bigger Fish
The deeper concern lies with those who authorize, fund, and legitimize these ghost projects. Evidence suggests that the systemic problem originates not with the private contractors but with the public officials who wield budgetary and regulatory authority:
- DPWH: As the primary implementing agency, it approves, supervises, and certifies infrastructure projects. Any fraudulent project would require complicity from within its ranks.
- Congress: Legislators play a powerful role in inserting projects into the national budget, often through the so-called “pork barrel” system. Ghost projects thrive when political patrons demand funding for non-existent infrastructure in exchange for kickbacks.
- Other Agencies: Auditing, oversight, and local government units also play roles in monitoring these projects. Their failure, or deliberate neglect, enables corruption to persist unchecked.
“Follow the money, and you will find the power. Where power resides, accountability must begin.”
Final Thoughts
The flood control ghost project scandal is a reminder of how systemic corruption works in the Philippines. Contractors may face the spotlight, but until the Senate, and the public, demand accountability from the government agencies and lawmakers that make these schemes possible, the cycle of scandal will continue. Investigations must move beyond scapegoats and address the true sources of power and corruption.
What do you think?
We invite you to reflect and engage:
- Should the Senate expand its probe beyond contractors to government officials?
- How can systemic corruption be dismantled when those in power benefit from it?
- What role can citizens and media play in demanding accountability?
Join the national conversation and share your thoughts.