Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla announced an investigation into the ₱60 billion allocated for Cebu province’s flood control initiatives over the last six years, questioning why heavy flooding persists despite the massive funding.
Speaking during a visit to the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas in Cebu City, Remulla revealed that roughly 25 percent—around ₱15 billion—of the total budget was directed solely to Cebu’s 7th District, which is currently represented by Representative Patricia Calderon and includes the towns of Alcantara, Alegria, Badian, Dumanjug, Ginatilan, Malabuyoc, Moalboal, and Ronda.
“For the past 6 years, ₱60 billion has been poured into Cebu. And most of it, or 25% went to, a bulk of it went to 7th district,” Remulla stated.
The Ombudsman further alleged that another 25 percent of the funds went to a single prominent contractor, identified as “Quirante.” The reference points to Cebuano engineer Allan Quirante and his firm, QM Builders, which originated in Dumanjug.
QM Builders previously drew scrutiny during a 2025 Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing and was named among 15 firms that secured approximately ₱100 billion in nationwide flood mitigation contracts.
“And that should be a lot of money to control the flooding, but apparently the past month flooding happened again here in Cebu,” Remulla added.
To address the recurring inundations, the Ombudsman’s office will examine project designs, execution flaws, and potential corruption behind the high-budget, low-impact infrastructure projects.