Ten billion pesos. That was the amount allotted by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in flood control projects in Laguna from 2022 to 2025.
And yet, as the weeklong monsoon rains proved last July, perennial flooding remains a problem in many parts of the province.
With the ongoing investigation, as well as mounting public anger, over the billions of pesos in flood-control projects allegedly pocketed by corrupt government officials and contractors, Laguna 1st District Board Member Bernadeth Olivares seeks to restore transparency and public accountability over the massive infrastructure works of the national and local governments.
This was her main goal in filing before the Sangguniang Panlalawigan a bill seeking intensive scrutiny and monitoring of every infrastructure project in Laguna province.
Dubbed the Open Infrastructure and Public Oversight Ordinance, or simply the Open Infra Ordinance, Olivares’ bill aims to ensure that not only these projects get completed on schedule, but that the projects will not become “white elephants” or useless to the public.
Ilan lamang ito sa mga katanungan na nais mabigyang-kasagutan ni 1st District Board Member Bernadeth Olivares kasabay ng paghahain niya ng isang panukalang batas na naglalayong isulong ang transparency and accountability sa mga malalaking infrastructure project sa lalawigan.
"Karapatan ng bawat mamamayan na malaman kung saan napupunta ang pondo ng gobyerno, dahil ang perang ito ay mula sa ating buwis...Nararapat lamang na bumalik ito sa atin sa anyo ng mga proyektong tunay na kapaki-pakinabang sa ating mga mamamayan," Olivares explained in a social media post.
Under the Open Infra ordinance, public infrastructure works in Laguna will be subjected to monitoring and evaluation under the following aspects:
- Coordination: All infrastructure projects—whether flood control, roads, bridges, school buildings, or any national government-funded projects—must be aligned with provincial and local development plans.
- Transparency: All project details—title, design, cost, contractors, timelines—must be accessible to the public.
- Accountability: A “multi-stakeholder oversight group” comprising of government, private sector, civil society, and community representatives will work together to monitor and evaluate infrastructure projects including consultation with the public who will be direct beneficiaries of the said projects.
OIivares added that this ordinance will not only cover the controversial flood-control projects but also every building, road and other infrastructure project in the province.
“Ang ordinansang ito ay hindi lamang exclusive sa flood control projects. Saklaw ng ordinansa ang lahat ng iba pang infrastructure projects of national agencies implemented in Laguna,” she emphasized.
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