Benguet’s mountainous terrain and river systems make flood control a necessity rather than an option. Each typhoon season, communities brace for swollen rivers, damaged crops, and eroded roads. In response, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has rolled out multimillion-peso projects across La Trinidad, Buguias, Mankayan, Sablan, and other towns. Revetment walls, riverbank protections, and drainage systems are visible testaments to government action.
On the ground, some of these projects work as intended. Farmers in La Trinidad’s strawberry fields have noted that water drains faster thanks to new systems, while structures along the Agno River have reduced the threat of erosion in residential and farming zones. These successes prove that well-planned and properly executed flood mitigation projects can save lives and livelihoods.
But the question persists: are all these projects truly effective, or are some of them simply convenient outlets for government spending?Investigations and reports point to troubling patterns. In “Mayor Magalong orders probe into P200M Benguet flood control projects” (Philippine Daily Inquirer, Oct. 12, 2020), Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong flagged several “anomalous” flood control projects, including structures that obstruct rather than facilitate water flow. In La Trinidad’s Bolo Creek, a costly flood mitigation project was reported to have engineering deficiencies, sparking doubts about its real benefit. Hazard maps also suggest that some structures were built in low-risk areas, raising suspicions of misallocated funds.
Concerns are not limited to flood control. Other infrastructure initiatives in Benguet have also faced scrutiny. The Philippine News Agency (Oct. 20, 2021), in its report “COA flags P129-M DPWH Cordillera road project for substandard work,” detailed how the Commission on Audit found irregularities in a Benguet road project, citing poor workmanship and possible contract violations. Similarly, the Baguio Midland Courier (Nov. 7, 2021) ran the story “DPWH Cordillera road projects questioned for overpricing,” highlighting allegations that some projects were priced significantly higher than comparable undertakings.
These reports fuel public skepticism. When communities see structures that collapse too soon, are built in questionable locations, or are overpriced, doubts naturally grow about whether government funds are being used wisely.
This tension between visible achievements and questionable practices creates a credibility gap. On one hand, residents benefit from projects that clearly work; on the other, they witness anomalies that cast doubt on the entire infrastructure program. Transparency and accountability are the only ways to bridge this gap.
Benguet deserves infrastructure that is not only functional but also free from suspicion. Flood control is a matter of public safety, not a political trophy or a source of easy contracts. Every project should undergo rigorous hazard assessment, quality control, and transparent procurement to ensure that taxpayers’ money builds protection, not suspicion.
The challenge, then, is not whether flood control should continue. It must, but whether every peso invested is truly safeguarding communities or quietly washed away by corruption. Only when integrity matches investment will Benguet’s people fully trust that their government is building for their safety, not just for show.
