Philippines flood control scam by the numbers: 421 of 8,000 are ‘ghost projects’
Public works head reveals fake projects amid growing scrutiny of infrastructure scam
Manila: The flood control scam in the Philippines continues to dominate headlines.
Investigations reveal significant financial irregularities and systemic corruption within infrastructure projects.
The financial scale — spanning billions of pesos — coincides with a critical period of unpaid health and education workers' allowances, insufficient and dilapidated classrooms, floods and climate-change vulnerabilities, underinvestment in military and proper infrastructure and a lack of hope among the country's young people.
Following are the key numbers surrounding the ghost projects scam we know so far:
421 'ghost' projects
Details: Out of 8,000 inspected flood control works inspected nationwide, at least 421 have been classified as "ghost projects" — non-existent or poorly executed infrastructure initiatives.
This was revealed by Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon announced on Thursday, October 9, 2025, during a press conference following a meeting with the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) at its office in Taguig City.
These projects are scattered across the country, with a notable concentration in Luzon. The total cost remains undisclosed pending further investigation.
Source: Dizon’s announcement on Thursday (October 9, 2025).
₱700 billion
Details: The Philippines loses approximately ₱700 billion annually to corruption across various sectors, as part of a broader systemic issue. This figure underscores the long-standing challenge of graft that the current administration aims to address.
Source: Former Deputy Ombudsman Cyril Ramos’ 2019 estimate.
₱1.2 trillion
Details: Corruption drains 20%, or about ₱1.2 trillion ($13.35 billion), from the annual budget.
Source: Ombudsman.
₱142.7 billion
Details: “Bicam” insertions seen in the 2025 budget (valued at $2.46 billion). This echoes earlier cases like the Malampaya scam (₱366 million plunder) and AFP funds theft (₱303 million).
Source: Senate Blue Ribbon Committe
₱180 billion frozen in bank Accounts
Details: Investigators have frozen ₱180 billion linked to 427 bank accounts associated with four contractor firms, allegedly owned by flood-control figures Curlee and Sarah Discaya.
This amount dwarfs the ₱1 billion in cash-filled suitcases allegedly delivered to a single official, highlighting the scam's vast financial scope.
Source: Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC).
₱118.5 billion
Details: Amount of money lost due to phoney flood control projects from 2023-2025. This curbs GDP growth (prevents 95,000-266,000 jobs, and also worsens climate disasters (e.g., leptospirosis surges from unbuilt flood defences).
Source: Department of Finance
727
Details: Total number of bank accounts related to public works corruption and ghost projects frozen so far via a court order has reached 727, as per the BSP, the Philippine Central Bank, and the Anti-Money Laundering Council.
Source: Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC).
₱3.1 million bribery incident (US$62,944.16)
Details: An alleged bribery of ₱3.1 million (US$62,944.16) by DPWH Batangas 1st District Engineer Abelardo Calalo was intended to halt an investigation into corruption in flood control projects. This incident exemplifies the grassroots-level corruption feeding into the larger scandal.
Source: Representative Leandro Leviste’s report to the Taal Municipal Police, August 22, 2025.
Urgent need for accountability
The numbers illustrate a nation grappling with the intersection of corruption and climate vulnerability.
The exposure of 421 ghost projects and the freezing of ₱180 billion signal a critical push for accountability.
The ICI’s ongoing investigation, coupled with the Senate’s probe, underscores a multi-pronged approach to prosecute those responsible.
This public outcry, driven by revelations of ghost projects costing billions, demonstrates widespread support for the government’s moves to expose and prosecute scammers, though it also pressures authorities to deliver tangible results.
Despite the scandal’s severity, anti-corruption protests in multiple cities had been mostly peaceful.
So far, the fallout has led to significant personnel changes notably at the DPWH.
More notably, the ICI has escalated its response by issuing Immigration Lookout Bulletin Orders (ILBOs) against key politicians and former officials implicated in the scam, marking a bold step in the investigation as of October 9, 2025.
The combination of financial losses, environmental pressures, and public demand for justice sets the stage for a game-changing, though challenging, response to corrupt practices by public officials.
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