By I. Inojales | 08:30 PM September 28, 2025
LOBOC, Bohol — The Philippine Anti-Corruption Czar (PACC) has called for a comprehensive investigation into the ₱2.5-billion Loboc River Flood Control Project, which was recently suspended due to environmental compliance violations and growing public discontent among Boholanos.
The project, implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Regional Office 7 and the Bohol 3rd District Engineering Office, is part of a multi-year, multi-billion peso flood control program in the province covering 2022–2025.
Suspension for Violations
PACC confirmed that construction was halted after it was found that the project had no Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) and had bypassed approvals from the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB), and the Municipality of Loboc.
“This raises a very serious question,” PACC Chairman Dr. Louie F. Ceniza, PhD said. “Why did DPWH proceed with construction without first securing the ECC and clearances required by law?”
Investigators pointed to DPWH’s Planning and Design Office, which approved the project site inside a protected zone—adjacent to the Chocolate Hills Natural Monument and along the world-renowned Loboc River. PACC said the oversight showed “a disregard for basic environmental safeguards” that could have been avoided with proper planning.
Boholanos’ Frustration
Local residents expressed both skepticism and anger.
“We just want to know if our taxes are being spent wisely, and if these flood control projects will actually stop flooding,” one Loboc resident said.
The Loboc project now stands as a flashpoint in the wider controversy surrounding DPWH flood control projects nationwide. Just recently, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. revealed a list of 15 major contractors allegedly engaged in contract manipulation and the use of substandard materials in flood control programs.
PACC’s Recommendations
To protect taxpayers and restore accountability, PACC recommended:
1.A full technical and environmental audit of the Loboc project.
- An NBI investigation into possible anomalies, collusion, and fund misuse.
- Transparency measures, including publication of all contracts, project scope, contractors, and timelines.
- A COA special audit of all Bohol flood control projects from 2022–2025, totaling ₱3.4 billion.
- Accountability measures — administrative and criminal charges, plus freezing of assets and bank accounts of implicated individuals.
- Financial audits of contractors and DPWH officials suspected of profiting from flood control allocations.
A Symbol of Public Distrust
PACC said the Loboc project has become a symbol of broader failures in infrastructure governance: environmental non-compliance, weak oversight, and eroding public trust.
“The Loboc River Flood Control Project represents more than just riprap and embankments—it represents the trust of the people,” Ceniza said. “PACC will ensure every peso of public funds is protected, every contract is scrutinized, and every official or contractor guilty of corruption or negligence will be held accountable.”
The ₱2.5-billion project, once billed as a safeguard against floods, is now under the spotlight as a test case for transparency and accountability in Philippine infrastructure spending.
