Bulacan Governor Daniel Fernando admitted he was unaware of the province’s reported ₱41-billion flood-management allocation from 2022 to 2025 after Ted Failon pressed him on the issue in what proved to be a shining moment for the veteran broadcaster.
The interview revealed that Fernando had no records of the funds, even as parts of Bulacan grappled with severe flooding following weeks of heavy rains, prompting the province to declare a state of calamity and forcing more than 7,000 residents to evacuate.
“Wala kasi akong datos na hawak-hawak. We have so many projects to do,” Fernando said.
Fernando said Department of Public Works and Highways projects in Bulacan were not coordinated with the provincial government, leaving his office without information about the agency’s activities.
He also said his administration had not undertaken flood-control projects, instead focusing on infrastructure such as multipurpose facilities and road repairs.
Fernando said he eventually issued an executive order requiring DPWH-led projects to coordinate with the provincial government.
“Kaya nga po natpilitan akong gumawa ng executive order para dumaan sila sa amin ngayon,” Fernando said.
Failon reminded Fernando that local officials have a responsibility to scrutinize projects being implemented within their jurisdiction.
“Ang una n’yo pong trabaho, busisiin po lahat ng project po sa inyo regardless kung sino pong gumagawa,” Failon said.
Flood-control corruption in Bulacan has been flagged as among the most serious in the country. In August 2025, the province was described as the “most notorious” in the country for alleged anomalies in flood-control spending, with a “well-organized syndicate” reportedly operating behind the scheme.
Between July 2022 and May 2025, Bulacan recorded 668 separate flood-control projects, the highest number reported nationwide.
A Department of Finance study cited in reports on the controversy estimated that corruption in flood-control projects drained between ₱42.3 billion and ₱118.4 billion from the Philippine economy from 2023 to 2025 alone.
