100,000 workers affected by sanctioning of contractors in flood mess

MANILA, Philippines — An estimated 100,000 workers have been affected by the revocation of licenses contractors linked to the flood control projects controversy.

The matter was discussed during the Senate’s marathon plenary debates on the 2026 funding of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and was confirmed by Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian — the agency’s budget sponsor. 

“Mga 100,000 po ang estimate nila. Marami-rami rin,” said Gatchalian on Thursday evening when he was asked by Sen. Risa Hontiveros how many individuals were affected by the corruption scandal. 

In response, Hontiveros pointed out that this means that 100,000 families were affected and “are really relying on the urgent and longer-term assistance” of the government at present, which Gatchalian confirmed. 

“Hopefully masalo ito ng private sector construction. I think ang private sector nakikita natin, despite —- noong nawala ang [Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators] I’ve read reports na may resurgence in office space so ang hope natin is rechannel itong from government to the private sector,” said Gatchalian. 

(Hopefully, the private-sector construction industry can absorb them. I think the private sector—despite the loss of [Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators]—based on reports I’ve read, there is a resurgence in office space. So our hope is to rechannel this (workforce) from government projects to the private sector)

Prior to this, Hontiveros already asked what DOLE was doing to assist skilled and semi-skilled workers affected by the cancellation of licenses of contractors involved in the flood control issue. 

She particularly asked what steps the agency was taking, further asking if they had plans prepared for the workers who lost their jobs because their contractors’ licenses were revoked under Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board. 

Gatchalian, for his part, said DOLE is in constant coordination with the association of contractors because there is a “slowdown” in the country’s construction industry. 

But apart from this, Gatchalian said DOLE has an employment assistance for construction workers who are temporarily displaced. 

“Marami sa mga construction workers, mga ano ito eh, hindi naman sila regular employees. Marami dito ay mga contractual employee so meron silang mga temporary work assistance. And then meron din silang mga convergence program with TESDA, in so far as reskilling and upskilling [is concerned],” said Gatchalian. 

(Many construction workers are not regular employees—many of them are contractual—so they have temporary work assistance available for them. They also have convergence programs with TESDA in terms of reskilling and upskilling)

In the end, he explained that what’s essential is that the construction industry itself “coordinates with DOLE” if there are still workers displaced due to the flood control issue. /gsg