(1st UPDATE) Negros Occidental bagged P1.95 billion in infrastructure projects that former Ako Bicol Party-list representative Zaldy Co claims were inserted into the 2025 national budget on the instruction of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Co disclosed the list on Friday, November 14, as part of a broader accusation that the Marcos administration, together with former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, directed more than P100 billion in project insertions.
In releasing the document online, Co wrote, “Narito po ang listahan ng mga proyekto na inutos ni PBBM na i-insert sa 2025 Budget na may kabuoang halaga na 100 billion pesos.”
Although the file Co uploaded lists projects nationwide—some of which include contractor names or accomplishment details—the entries for Negros Occidental show neither. The document does not identify contractors nor provide any implementation or accomplishment status for the province’s projects, raising further questions about how these allocations were processed.
Biiden projects
Based on the list, Negros Occidental—which includes the cities of Sagay, Himamaylan, and Bacolod, and the municipalities of La Castellana and Isabela—secures some of the largest amounts under the alleged insertions.
In Sagay City, four segments of the Sagay–Bato–Dian–Marcelo–Balea Junction Road receive substantial allocations:
- P149,500,000 (K0084+(-966) to K0085+361)
- P147,500,000 (K0093+200 to K0097+370, K0097+733 to K0100+720)
- P147,500,000 (K0100+720 to K0102+462)
- P100,000,000 (K0103+083 to K0104+000, K0112+000 to K0114+000, K0121+435 to K0122+106)
In the central part of the province, allocations under the Jct. Bagonawa–La Castellana–Isabela Road include:
- P80,500,000 (K0064+000 to K0066+000)
- P48,500,000 (K0071+000 to K0072+244)
The Isabela–Libas Boundary Road, which links upland barangays to the provincial border, receives P42,500,000, while the Hinigaran–Isabela Road received P72,500,000.
In Himamaylan City, the Himamaylan By-Pass Road obtained P38,500,000.
Several major allocations also appear for Bacolod City and nearby areas along the Bacolod North and South Roads:
Bacolod North Road
- P150,000,000 (K0049+366 to K0050+616, K0085+487 to K0086+301)
- P150,000,000 (K0088+596 to K0091+537)
- P149,500,000 (Old Route, K0072+(-938) to K0074+000)
- P149,500,000 (Old Route, K0074+000 to K0076+666)
- P147,500,000 (K0090+252 to K0091+537)
Bacolod South Road
- P147,500,000 (K0000+000 to K0002+982, K0003+300 to K0004+085)
- P66,500,000 (K0055+174 to K0056+000, K0056+570 to K0056+720)
- P56,500,000 (K0064+538 to K0065+364)
Together, the allocations for Negros Occidental represent only a fraction of what Co alleges were inserted into the 2025 national budget.*
Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, maintains a personal blog on Medium, and is the communications officer of Hope Builders Organization Negros Island.