In the Philippines, a big government boss named Secretary Manuel Bonoan, who works for the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), might take a break from work. Why? Because many people are upset that flood control projects, meant to stop floods, didn’t work or were never even finished!
Congressman Albee Benitez, who helps lead the city of Bacolod, said that the best thing Secretary Bonoan could do right now is to step aside while the government investigates what went wrong. Benitez said it would show respect (“delicadeza”) and help make sure the investigation is fair.
Secretary Bonoan said he’s okay with the idea of taking a break if it’s needed. “If it helps, then why not?” he said in Filipino.
This issue isn’t just about one person. Manila Mayor Isko Moreno also said maybe the job of fixing floods should be given to local government offices, not just big national ones like DPWH. Bonoan replied that if local governments can handle it, they should help too. “We all need to work together,” he said.
What’s Happening Now?
Another leader, Congressman Terry Ridon, is in charge of the group that looks at how government money is spent. He said they are now preparing an investigation. That means they will look into all kinds of projects, including flood controls, to see what went wrong and who is responsible.
He also said that they will soon call DPWH officials to answer questions.
Even the President is Angry
President Bongbong Marcos Jr. also spoke about this problem during his speech to the nation. He said that some flood projects were badly made, and some might not even exist at all—as if someone just made them up on paper to steal money.
He warned that any government workers caught stealing money from these projects will face punishment. President Marcos also told the DPWH to give a full list of all flood projects from the past three years and show it to the public. This way, people can see who was responsible for the mess.
