ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has completed a ₱28.8-million river wall in Siay town, saying it will strengthen flood defenses and protect nearby communities from seasonal inundation.
The DPWH-Zamboanga Peninsula announced on Wednesday, August 27, that the project spans 310 linear meters along a riverbank and was funded under the 2025 General Appropriations Act.
In a statement, the agency said the river wall is expected to “provide lasting protection, preserve agricultural productivity, and ensure the safety of residents living nearby.” The Second District Engineering Office of DPWH implemented the project.
But the announcement comes at a time when the agency is under fire nationwide for alleged “ghost” and overpriced flood control projects.
Congressional inquiries and Commission on Audit (COA) reports in recent years have flagged ballooning budgets for flood mitigation, which now eat up a hefty chunk of the DPWH’s annual spending. Watchdogs warn that the sector has become a “parking lot” for pork, with projects either existing only on paper, riddled with substandard work, or grossly overpriced.
On the ground, residents in some provinces complain that newly built river walls have already cracked or collapsed after heavy rains—raising questions about whether billions funneled into flood control are truly protecting communities or simply lining pockets.
Residents in Siay town cautiously welcomed the completion of the river wall, but many remain skeptical. Across the country, doubts linger: Are these projects really shields against climate risk, or just another channel for corruption?
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