By CESAR JOLITO III
The Council of Concerned Citizens (C3) has formally sought an investigation from the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) into the alleged widespread irregularities in 138 flood control projects implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Bacolod City from 2022 to 2025.
On Thursday, November 27, C3 lodged a detailed complaint, accusing DPWH – Negros Island Region Director Denise Maria Ayag, acting Bacolod Engineering District Engineer Leah Jamero, former district engineer Abraham Villareal, and their respective staff of alleged negligence and project lapses.
C3 convenor Atty. Renecito Novero furnished the complaint copies to the Senate blue ribbon committee, DPWH central office and the office of Senator Risa Hontiveros.
According to Novero, the complaint covers four major flood control undertakings worth a combined P3 billion, broken down as follows: P655.80 million for 2022, P1.02 billion for 2023, P748.21 million for 2024, and P584.60 million for 2025.
He said all 138 projects under scrutiny allegedly showed signs of flawed design, substandard implementation or remained unfinished despite their approved budgets.
Novero said the C3 “attached solid evidence that ICI should not ignore,” urging the probe body “to come to Bacolod and see the projects.”
“Where did the funds go, and why did the flood control systems fail when we needed them most?” Novero said.
“The people of Bacolod deserve answers,” he stressed.
The filing comes just days after Tropical Depression “Verbena” brought torrential, hours-long rains on November 25 that triggered some of the worst flooding Bacolod has seen in recent history.
Barangays Singcang-Airport, Banago and Tangub were among the hardest hit, with waters reportedly rising to rooftop levels, forcing residents to flee or seek refuge on higher ground.
C3 is urging the ICI, the Senate blue ribbon committee, and DPWH to open a full investigation, saying public accountability is urgent given the billions involved and the recent disaster that highlighted the city’s infrastructure vulnerabilities.
At the height of the controversy surrounding Bacolod’s flood control projects, C3 extended invitations to various government offices — including the Office of the President, the Ombudsman, the DPWH, and local government officials — to join their site visits and investigations.
Earlier, C3 said its independent report was part of a civic initiative to strengthen public monitoring of government spending and ensure that infrastructure projects deliver real benefits to the people of Bacolod rather than existing only on paper.
In September, C3 raised serious questions over the transparency, necessity and quality of the flood control projects in Bacolod, following an independent inspection and review of completed structures.
Former C3 lead convenor Fr. Aniceto “Mao” Buenafe earlier stressed that while no ghost projects were found, the investigation exposed broader issues of design integrity, bidding processes, contractor accountability, and inter-agency responsibility./CJ, WDJ