Yesterday, during President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr.'s 4th State of the Nation Address (SONA), a full audit on the government’s flood control projects from the past 3 years was ordered.

This can be attributed to the obvious failure of these projects to mitigate floods, a failure which was aggravated by corruption and made evident during last week’s onslaught of typhoons intensified by the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat).

Wanting to show their “clean hands”, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) proudly announced that the agency has received favorable audit reports from the Commission on Audit (COA) across three areas, which it says is a “testament to the agency’s unwavering commitment to good governance and effective public service delivery.

The audit reports came before the order of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to audit all flood control projects during yesterday's State of the Nation Address (SONA).

MMDA Chairman, Atty. Don Artes said the first notable report is the COA’s Citizen Participatory Audit on the flood control projects of the MMDA; second, an unmodified opinion for the agency’s financial reporting for fiscal year (FY) 2024; and a favorable audit report for Metro Manila Flood Management Project (MMFMP) Phase-1.

“These COA reports affirm and validate the agency’s efforts to reduce flooding in Metro Manila, aligned with the President’s directive under the Bagong Pilipinas vision to reinforce and optimize flood control systems in vulnerable areas,” said Artes.

‘A significant decrease in flooding’ was noted in the Citizen Participatory Audit (CPA) for select flood control projects of MMDA from January 1, 2021 to June 30, 2024, where those directly affected and serviced by the selected projects and implemented in the said period said they are satisfied with the projects and interventions undertaken by the agency.

State auditors confirmed the MMDA’s compliance with procurement and disbursement rules for flood control projects, noting an unmodified opinion from COA for FY 2024 financial reporting. This, the highest audit rating, validates the agency’s commitment to good governance.

Furthermore, a citizen participatory audit revealed significant improvements in flood mitigation. Reports of waist-to-chest-deep flooding dropped from 43% pre-2020 to 23% post-2021, while minor or no flooding rose from 31% to 39%. Flood-related disruptions also sharply declined from 55% to 26%, with 65% now reporting rare or no frequent flooding. Public satisfaction stands at 82%.

MMDA Chairman Atty. Don Artes attributed these gains to the consistent maintenance of 71 pumping stations and drainage improvements. He also appealed for public cooperation in solid waste management, a crucial factor in flood control. The Metro Manila Flood Management Project Phase 1 also received a favorable audit, showcasing transparent and accountable fund management for flood risk reduction and waste management.