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In a candid and pointed conversation during Episode 3 Part 1 of the BBM Podcast with journalist Ivan Mayrina, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. addressed what has become one of the most applauded parts of his recent State of the Nation Address (SONA): his strong warning against corruption, particularly in flood control projects.

When Mayrina opened the interview by citing a staggering ₱980.2 billion allocated for flood control in the past three years, President Marcos did not hold back. He recalled how his concern began during field visits amid successive typhoons. “I kept seeing the same thing—heavy flooding, unfinished or absent infrastructure, and suffering communities,” he said. “I was shocked. I thought these areas were already funded. Where’s the work?”

What he saw on the ground—the same flood-prone communities still without meaningful protection—was a tipping point. “You see children sleeping on gym floors, cramped with others, getting sick. This is no longer just inefficiency. It’s negligence. It’s wrong.”

The President’s frustration echoed the sentiments of many Filipinos, earning him a standing ovation during the SONA when he said, “Mahiya naman kayo.” But when asked directly who he was referring to, he responded firmly: “They know who they are.”

Still, this is not just about delivering a powerful line. President Marcos emphasized that investigations are already underway, with audits being conducted to identify those responsible. “We cannot fix the problem without knowing who to hold accountable,” he said. “Somebody has to answer for the suffering our people endure.”

He also made it clear: loyalty has its limits. “If you’re my ally but you’re part of this corruption, then you’re no longer my ally,” he stated unequivocally.

Beyond flood control projects, the President acknowledged the wider issue of corruption in public spending. Citing a World Bank estimate that 20% of the national budget may be lost to corruption, he committed to applying the same scrutiny to all government projects—not just those related to disaster resilience. “We can’t choose where to apply accountability. This has to be across the board.”

To reinforce transparency, the administration is bypassing the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in some aspects of the review, choosing instead to make project lists public and accessible for communities to validate. “We already have names. Contractors, corporations—we’re starting to see patterns of poor work and possible fraud. We’ll blacklist them. We’ll file charges,” Marcos warned.

The conversation also touched on budget integrity. Marcos reiterated his resolve to return any General Appropriations Bill not aligned with his National Expenditure Program, even if it means operating under a reenacted budget. While acknowledging the legislative branch’s power over the budget, he stressed that executive proposals must not be distorted by last-minute insertions, especially those that compromise critical programs like foreign-assisted infrastructure. “Some of the projects they fund through insertions—we’re borrowing money for those. And some of them are not even good projects. That’s unforgivable.”

When asked if he was prepared to face a reenacted budget, his answer was direct: “Yes. If that’s what it takes to protect the people’s money, I’m willing to do it.”

The message is clear: President Marcos is setting a tone of accountability in public infrastructure and national budgeting. Whether this effort results in lasting reform remains to be seen—but the warning has been made, the investigations have begun, and the country is watching.