President Bongbong Marcos announced a government initiative to deploy artificial intelligence to detect irregularities in the contracts and implementation of flood control projects. The plan follows a wave of corruption investigations involving substandard and allegedly fictitious flood control works that triggered action from oversight bodies, including the Commission on Audit, Congress, and the newly established Independent Commission for Infrastructure.
Marcos said the technology will monitor the contract process and raise alerts when inconsistencies appear. “The AI is looking at the contract process. And when there’s something wrong with the contract process, it will flag it,” he said during his President’s Report. He also explained that existing smart tools can already verify the actual condition of construction materials, including checks on rebar placement, cement thickness, and compliance with project specifications.
The administration launched a transparency portal to give the public direct access to information on ongoing projects. Marcos said the portal displays the implementing office, project location, contractors, and status updates. From August 11 to November 10, the Sumbong sa Pangulo website logged 20,078 public reports. He said the government will pursue systematic reforms meant to improve transparency, strengthen data security, and widen citizen participation in project monitoring. He added that improvements in design processes, procurement systems, and bidding procedures are also underway.
Marcos said AI tools will be used to spot anomalies in contracts connected to flood control projects and identify irregularities that normally take longer to detect. He issued a direct warning to those involved in questionable projects. “They’re going to be locked up; they won’t have a Merry Christmas,” he said when asked about possible arrests. He said he is confident that significant amounts of public funds can still be recovered through ongoing investigations and legal action. “I’m sure we can still recover a lot from this, so we’ll continue to do that,” he said.
Issues involving alleged corruption in flood control works have escalated over the past year, with watchdog findings and investigative reports revealing major discrepancies in several projects. On September 11, Marcos signed Executive Order No. 94 creating the Independent Commission for Infrastructure to review public works completed over the last decade. The commission has already referred its first batch of cases to the Office of the Ombudsman involving 37 individuals, including high-profile politicians, former public works officials, and private contractors.
Public pressure continues to mount for accountability, with calls for the administration to prosecute those involved and overhaul the procurement systems that allowed the irregularities to persist.
