THE DATA TRAILS OF FLOOD CONTROL PROJECTS

THE DATA TRAILS OF FLOOD CONTROL PROJECTS

No, it is not my job to go after corrupt politicians and their equally corrupt contractor cohorts. Other people can do that. My job is to write about possible technological solutions to social problems. My job is to look for new ideas that could be applied to good governance and public administration. It is not my style to jump into the noise of political discussions without adding value to the conversation. Yes, that is my job—to add value to any relevant conversation that could lead to something good for the country.

I also don’t want to be among those who are branded as “No Action Talk Only” (NATO). I thank the Lord that even though I am already retired, already a senior citizen, I still have a means of action—even if only by way of writing. In the past, I had a talk show, but even then, I could not be accused of “Talk Only,” because my topics were always about good governance and public administration.

Now, let me say this: all of us want to bring out the truth when it comes to social and political issues, but what could be a better way to bring out the truth than to bring out the data? Yes, there is nothing better than data-driven governance.

And here’s the bottom line—there is always a data trail if you want to investigate corruption in government projects, not only in flood control projects. The problem is that few people actually follow it.

The data trail starts with the Terms of Reference (TOR). This is not just some bureaucratic paper—it is the document that contains all the technical specifications of the project. The TOR must first be approved by the Head of the Procuring Entity (HOPE), upon the recommendation of a Technical Working Group (TWG). In the case of Government Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCCs) and similar entities, the TOR must first be approved by the Board of Directors before it can even reach the HOPE.

As soon as the TOR is approved, an Invitation to Bid is published, listing the specifications found in the TOR. In short, if there are discrepancies in project delivery, the TOR is the ultimate basis for accountability.

If there are suspicions that a project is overpriced, then the project cost must be compared with the budget indicated in the TOR. If there are accusations of defective or substandard work, that too should be measured against the TOR. If the qualifications of the winning bidders are questioned, again—check the TOR.

In summary, if there is any real desire to investigate or prosecute contractors, all actions should be based on the TOR. Ultimately, the data trail could lead back to the HOPE, and in some cases, responsibility may also be shared with the Board of Directors.

But I would add a further step: in hindsight, all project costs should also be compared with prevailing construction industry costs. That way, we can test whether the figures in the TOR itself were inflated from the start. Fortunately, we already have reliable data sources for this.

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) publishes Construction Statistics from Approved Building Permits, including average cost per square meter by type of building, with regional breakdowns. For example, in January 2025 the average cost was ₱11,039.52/sqm, which dropped by 13.4% the following month, then rebounded to ₱11,600/sqm by June. That means if a flood control project’s unit cost is way off from these benchmarks, that is a red flag.

Other useful sources are LGUs and DPWH regional offices, which keep their own data on building permits and cost indices. Even the private sector publishes construction market reports explaining fluctuations in material and labor costs. When compared with project budgets, these datasets could show whether overpricing or under-delivery is happening.

So, the framework is clear: if we truly want accountability in flood control projects, or any government infrastructure, then let’s stop relying on rumors and start following the data trails.

Yes, politicians will argue, contractors will deny, and agencies will shuffle papers. But data does not lie. And if we insist that governance be data-driven, then corruption has fewer places to hide.

For me, this is the way to “add value” to the noisy conversations about flood control, infrastructure, or any other government project. Instead of mere finger-pointing, let us demand data transparency, TOR accountability, and benchmarking against industry costs.

That way, even if I am already retired, already “just writing,” I know I am not guilty of “Talk Only.” I am pointing to a path forward—one where truth is not manufactured by politics but revealed by the data trails that are already there, waiting to be tracked.

Ramon Ike V. Seneres, www.facebook.com/ike.seneres
iseneres@yahoo.com, 09088877282, senseneres.blogspot.com

11-22-2025 

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