By CESAR JOLITO III
Bacolod City Mayor Greg Gasataya has placed the review of flood control projects in the city in the hands of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and Malacañang, following President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.’s disclosure that Legacy Construction Corp. has cornered a significant share of such projects nationwide.
“Let us just allow the DPWH to do whatever it is doing right now,” Gasataya said.
He said the DPWH holds the data on the progress of these projects, which are based on the agency’s 2017 Comprehensive Drainage Master Plan for Bacolod.
Legacy Construction, led by Negrense businessman Alex Abelido, was identified by Marcos as one of 15 contractors awarded around 20 percent of the country’s flood control projects since 2022.
The construction firm currently handles 132 projects worth P9.56 billion nationwide, with 37 projects in Negros Occidental amounting to P2.75 billion, data from the newly launched Sumbong sa Pangulo website showed.
In Bacolod City alone, about 22 percent of DPWH’s flood control projects were awarded to Legacy, including six projects worth over P600 million between 2022 and 2024, five of which have been completed.
Aside from flood control works, Legacy is also building the Bacolod Legislative Building and the Bacolod General Hospital.
While the review is pending, Gasataya said the city government continues to identify and declog flood-prone areas for funding and intervention.
He emphasized that addressing flooding requires public cooperation.
Earlier, Bacolod Lone District Representative Alfredo Abelardo Benitez clarified that Marcos’ disclosure did not allege any anomalies but said it prompted a comprehensive DPWH review of all projects awarded since 2022.
“Because of the president’s call, all of these are under review and investigation to find out if there are any anomalies,” Benitez said.
He commended the president for initiating the audit and instructed local agencies to coordinate closely to avoid duplication of projects.
“I think there will be more action that the president will take in the next couple of days,” Benitez said./CJ, WDJ