CALUMPIT, Bulacan – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has demanded an explanation from a major government contractor after he found an unfinished flood control project in Bulacan, despite records showing it was already completed.

The project in Calumpit, Bulacan — the rehabilitation of a river protection structure in Barangay Bulusan — was awarded to St. Timothy Construction Corp., one of the country’s top three flood control contractors.

St. Timothy secured a ₱96.4 million contract in February 2022, with a deadline of February 12, 2023. But during his inspection on Friday, Mr. Marcos discovered that the structure had yet to be finished.

“St. Timothy ang kontratista dito kaya titingnan natin, kailangan pasagutin natin kung bakit ganito ginawa nila… mas mabuti pa dapat pumunta sila rito, makita nila gaano kahirap ang buhay na binigay nila sa mga kababayan natin,” the president said in frustration.

“Hindi puwedeng ganito, pambihira. This has been going on for years. Kailangan nila sagutin bakit ganito… anong, what possible excuse do they have for not doing this… hindi ko maisip,” he added.

Alleged Underspecifications

Marcos said that initial inspections suggested “underspecifications” in the metal used for the foundation of the revetment structure. He also expressed concern over the quality of cement and the lack of dredging and desiltation work in another site he visited in Barangay Frances.

“Mayroon kaming mga diver na sinisid sa ilalim at nakita talaga na very manipis lahat ng semento, hindi pantay-pantay. Talagang hindi maganda ang trabaho kaya talagang bibigay at bumigay na nga kaya kailangan nila sagutin kung bakit ganito,” he said.

The president demonstrated to residents the thickness of the cement used.

“Hawakan mo ‘yung semento dito, unang-una, ‘yung semento ganyan lang kakapal eh dapat 18 centimeters, mga eight inches, parang kalsada… dapat ganyan kakapal… ganyan lang ang nandiyan,” he said.

He also criticised records that indicated dredging had been completed when the riverbed was visibly overgrown with plants.

“Yung dinaanan namin, nandoon din sa record na may desiltation doon. Nakita niyo ba? Yung lupa natubuan na ng halaman. Ganoon na katagal na hindi nade-desilt pero sa record nakalagay desilted,” Marcos said.

“Tapos, meron dapat desiltation, dapat… doon na naman sa kontrata, may desiltation, dredging, completed. Tingnan mo naman, paano magiging completed ‘yan. Tingnan ninyo, may isla sa gitna, tinutubuan na ng damo na napaka… masukal na ‘yan oh, ibig sabihin matagal na sila hindi nagdredredge.”

“Managot sila, huwag silang managot sa akin, managot sila dito sa mga tao dito. ‘Yung kahirapan na dinala niyo sa mga buhay nila,” he added.

Contractor Under Scrutiny

Between July 2022 and March 2025, St. Timothy Construction won 105 projects amounting to ₱7.32 billion, making it the third-largest recipient of government flood control contracts, according to Malacañang data.

Earlier this week, Iloilo City Mayor Raisa Treñas claimed nearly ₱4 billion worth of flood control projects in the city were either unfinished, poorly constructed, or missing. She named St. Timothy Construction and Alpha and Omega General Contractor and Development Corporation as the companies involved.

Both firms are reportedly linked to Pacifico and Sarah Discaya, a Pasig-based couple who own and operate multiple construction companies. In the 2025 election, Sarah Discaya ran for mayor of Pasig but was defeated by the incumbent, Vico Sotto.

📷 Bongbong Marcos FB, Presidential Communications Office