Several projects in Palawan are among those contained in the documents released on social media on November 14 by resigned Ako Bicol Partylist lawmaker Zaldy Co, who claimed they indicated financial “insertions” approved for the 2025 national budget.
Prior to the release of the documents, Co made a video statement in which he claimed that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez orchestrated the inclusion of ₱100 billion worth of projects in the 2025 budget.
“Sana po ay hindi nila ako mapatay bago ko mailabas ang lahat,” he said.
“Ginagamit ng administrasyon ang buong resources ng bansa para tumahimik ako. Gagamitin ako bilang panakipbutas sa kanilang kampanya laban sa korapsyon,” he said, stating he was made the “poster boy” of their lies.
Based on the documents he uploaded, Palawan received allocations for a total of ₱1,353,600,000 under the General Appropriations Act.
The list covers projects in Aborlan, Puerto Princesa City, and El Nido.
Five projects are in Aborlan. All carry the same description, Construction of Cabigaan–Apurawan Cross Country Road.
These were listed under four contractors: KIR Konstructicon Builders and Supply Inc. (₱232,806,250), Aqualine Construction Corporation (₱232,882,216.14), AR Lustre Construction Corporation (₱232,564,868.32) and Ivy Michelle Construction and Trading Inc., which holds two projects worth ₱465,371,118.32. The total allocation for Aborlan is more than ₱1.1 billion.
Seven more projects in Puerto Princesa City and northern Palawan also appear in the list. For Puerto Princesa, Co’s documents show a ₱250,000,000 allocation for the Construction of Cruise Port and Facilities Package I, and another ₱250,000,000 for the Construction of East Coastal Road in Barangay Bagong Silang.
Two sections of the Palawan East Coastal Road are included: Package A and Package B, each with ₱250,000,000.
Two bridges are also listed: the Langogan Bridge (B00201PW) on the Puerto Princesa North Road with ₱17,600,000, and the Sayab Bridge (B00379PW) 2 on the Palawan Circumferential Road with ₱36,000,000.
The Construction of Teneguiban Access Road in El Nido is also included, with a ₱300,000,000 allocation.
Here is the full list of all 12 projects:
- Construction of Cabigaan–Apurawan Cross Country Road — KIR Konstructicon Builders and Supply Inc. (₱232,806,250)
- Construction of Cabigaan–Apurawan Cross Country Road — Aqualine Construction Corporation (₱232,882,216.14)
- Construction of Cabigaan–Apurawan Cross Country Road — AR Lustre Construction Corporation (₱232,564,868.32)
- Construction of Cabigaan–Apurawan Cross Country Road — Ivy Michelle Construction and Trading Inc. (₱465,371,118.32, two projects)
- Construction of Cruise Port and Facilities Package I, Puerto Princesa City (₱250,000,000)
- Construction of East Coastal Road, Barangay Bagong Silang section, Puerto Princesa City (₱250,000,000)
- Palawan East Coastal Road Package A (₱250,000,000)
- Palawan East Coastal Road Package B (₱250,000,000)
- Langogan Bridge (B00201PW), Puerto Princesa North Road (₱17,600,000)
- Sayab Bridge (B00379PW) 2, Palawan Circumferential Road (₱36,000,000)
- Construction of Teneguiban Access Road, El Nido (₱300,000,000)
The combined amount of all 12 projects reaches ₱2,517,224,452.78. The total comes from two separate groups of spending.
The first group is the five road projects in Aborlan, which together cost ₱1,163,624,452.78. All five carry the same title, Construction of Cabigaan–Apurawan Cross Country Road, but were awarded to different contractors.
Ivy Michelle Construction and Trading Inc. received two of these contracts, giving it the largest share of the Aborlan allocation.
The second group is made up of seven projects in Puerto Princesa City, El Nido, and other areas in Palawan. These include a cruise port, several sections of the East Coastal Road, two bridges, and the Teneguiban Access Road.
Their combined cost is ₱1,353,600,000. When added to the Aborlan projects, the full amount reaches more than ₱2.5 billion.
Palace denies
Malacañang officials said Co’s statements were an attempt to protect himself as he faces corruption complaints over alleged irregular flood control projects.
Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, whose name was tagged by Co, told reporters that the President had no need to insert projects late in the process, saying the National Expenditure Program already reflects all items approved by the chief executive.
“All appropriations ordered by the President are already in the National Expenditure Program. That is why it is called the President’s budget so we reject any insinuations about it,” she said.
“The bicam (bicameral conference committee) is purely under the power of the legislature. We respect and strictly follow the budget process and all our actions are above board,” she added.
Presidential Communications Secretary Dave Gomez also refuted Co’s accusations, emphasizing that Marcos himself initiated the investigation into questionable anti-flood programs.
“These wild accusations are completely without basis in fact. All the charges leveled against the President are pure hearsay,” he said.
Gomez added that Co should return to the country and “sign everything he said under oath with the proper judicial authorities.”
Public reaction
The documents drew reactions from residents, who raised questions about the projects listed for the province.
Board Member Ryan Dagsa Maminta questioned Co’s claims and the way he linked President Marcos to the ₱100-billion budget issue.
In a public post, Maminta asked why the President would allegedly wait for the budget bicameral conference to add funds if he intended to insert projects, noting the process should be clear to a former lawmaker.
He wrote that Co should explain why he was contacted about the matter instead of the executive secretary or the budget secretary.
“Tanong kay former Cong. Zaldy Co ng Ako Bicol PL, tanga o sobrang tanga at walang alam ba talaga si PBBM sa proseso ng budget at naghintay pa siya ng bicam para magdagdag o magsingit ng 100B budget sa NEP samantalang pwede niya ng gawin yun ng diretso at ito pa, itinawag pa talaga sayo sa halip na sa ES o DBM Secretary niya?” he said.
Other residents focused on whether the projects listed for Palawan were actually implemented.
One commenter said insertion itself is not illegal but becomes problematic when used for “kickbacks, ghost projects and substandard work.”
Another resident said that if Co’s list is accurate, people in Palawan should benefit, but the concern is whether the projects exist and whether funds were spent correctly.
Several comments questioned the status of the road works in Aborlan.
One resident claimed that three of the projects were “ghost projects,” while another said the works exist but have suffered long delays.
Some also criticized Co’s motives, saying his statements appeared forced and meant to protect himself.
Others argued that previous political dynamics, including the death of former congressman Ed Hagedorn and the appointment of Martin Romualdez as caretaker of the 3rd District, may explain why Aborlan received funding.
