ALBAY, Philippines – Albay 2nd District Representative Carlos “Caloy” Loria was considered a political neophyte when he won the May 2025 election against Zaldy Co’s brother and former Ako Bicol (AKB) Partylist representative Christopher Co. However, well before his congressional run, Makapa Corporation — a company Loria founded — had been securing billions in government contracts in the Bicol region.
Between 2021 and 2023, Loria’s company secured a series of lucrative contracts with the Department of Public Works and Highways, marking a period of substantial business growth. The firm won over 20 flood control projects in Albay and the 2nd district of Sorsogon, amounting to some P2.39 billion.
Being a DPWH contractor is not inherently wrong before entering politics. Yet for someone who campaigned on “real change” and a break from entrenched political habits, the extent of his firm’s DPWH ties raises questions about how different he truly is from those he sought to replace. (READ: Firms tied to Zaldy Co bag P2.38B to fix floods they worsened in Albay)
Bicolana Gabriela regional coordinator Nica Ombao said the promises of “real change for all Filipinos” require scrutinizing a politician’s background, “especially where their money or wealth comes from — these assets and liabilities, where they originated.”
Ombao stressed her difficulty of believing Loria’s anti-corruption stance. “It is hard to say that you are against corruption when you are speaking up against DPWH issues, but you have actually already been a part of the DPWH’s anomalies. It is very difficult to accept and value this promised ‘real change’ if they themselves have already benefited from the old, destructive, and exploitative system that we have now,” she said.
The large cumulative value of the contracts secured by his company appears to contradict Loria’s recent Facebook post, in which he said the “best flood control” requires no billions, only to “respect and protect mother nature.”
The “Rosaloria” tandem – composed of Loria and Albay Governor Noel Rosal – ran in the 2025 election under the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP–Laban), the political party of detained former president Rodrigo Duterte whose administration implemented some of the controversial flood control projects in the country.
Unresolved flooding
One of the flood control projects under Makapa in Albay was the rehabilitation of the structure along the Quinale River. This river marks the boundary between Polangui and Libon, two of the towns hardest hit during the flooding caused by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (Trami) in 2024. (READ: Thirsty Kristine victims in Albay village forced to boil, drink floodwater for survival)
Rappler’s review of DPWH and Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) data showed that Makapa secured a contract worth P125,336,435.30 for the flood control project that was declared finished in 2023.
Despite this significant public spending, residents report that the flooding problem in the area remains unsolved. They continue to suffer the burden of ineffective flood control projects that are often repaired and rehabilitated due to their poor quality.
“They measured it and added more, but nothing is happening,” said Morly Ortiz, a Polangui resident who has lived near the Quinale River for over 15 years and experienced multiple floods. “We just want effective flood control so we can finally be safe from the water.”
Like Ortiz, Myrna Mirandilla of Libon, lamented the loss of their harvest, especially during the onslaught of Kristine.
“The water kept rising, up to our necks, so during the last storm, I had to leave with my grandchildren because we were afraid we’d drown,” said Mirandilla in Filipino. “When I returned home, there were no more walls, no roof, all our belongings were gone, and even our farm animals were washed away.”
Mirandilla, who lives with her farmer husband and family, explained that they cannot move to a safer location because their house is close to the fields where her husband works.
The Kilusan ng Magbubukid sa Pilipinas (KMP) in Bicol has blamed anomalous flood control projects for the wide-ranging damage experienced by residents and farmers like Mirandilla’s family.
“The experience of Bicol last year, when it was battered by storms like Enteng, Kristine, and Pepito, brought widespread, deep, and prolonged flooding — this is a naked truth,” said KMP-Bicol in Filipino in a statement. “The storm is not the cause of the intensified effect, but the vulnerability of the people, which is worsened by the failure of flood control projects, corruption, unfinished works, and sub-standard construction.”
In 2024, the Department of Agriculture reported over P2.1 billion in agricultural losses due to Kristine nationwide, with Albay alone accounting for P403.8 million. Libon, considered the rice granary of Albay, suffered heavy damage.
A study by the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative (HHI) showed that while Kristine victims are accustomed to calamities, they are still far from being better prepared.
Dr. Vincenzo Bollettino, director of HHI’s Resilient Communities program, said, “Despite facing frequent and intense typhoons, Bicol’s lower preparedness highlights a critical disconnect between experience and readiness.”
This lack of preparedness and the inefficient flood control leave vulnerable families gravely exposed to disasters and reliant on officials for post-storm help.
This reliance, however, often intersects with politics.
In Loria’s case, his relief program, CALinga ni Loria, often provided aid to communities battered by the floods that resulted, in part, from the flood control projects in which his firm, Makapa, was involved. This program became his main visibility effort, accelerating his campaign since 2024, with relief operation posts on social media using hashtags like #CAL25 that signaled his bid for public office.
For Mirandilla, however, the best help Albayanos can get is not a post-disaster appearance, but proper, effective projects that safeguard their lives.
“If the flood control was properly done, we wouldn’t be flooded, and we wouldn’t have to suffer,” she emphasized.
Quarry operator
Makapa’s operations are not limited to construction; like the Co family’s businesses in Albay, Makapa also runs quarrying operations, an industry widely blamed by Albayanos for worsened flooding. The company operates quarries near the boundary of Ligao City and Guinobatan town, an area already known for its susceptibility to flooding. (READ: In typhoon-hit Bicol, political clans aiding victims backed projects blamed for flooding)
A satellite image from Google Maps clearly shows the signage for Makapa’s quarry operations in Baligang, Ligao City. Furthermore, satellite images spanning several years from Google Earth Pro illustrate the environmental damage caused by these operations in the area.
Asked about his company’s future involvement in public contracts, Loria said in a 2024 public forum that he would divest from Makapa and that the company would cease participating in contract biddings for projects in Albay.
“I will divest from Makapa — that’s the first thing that I will do. I will divest and I will not be there personally. Makapa Corporation will not engage in projects in Albay. It would be better that it operates in Manila, where projects are worth billions,” Loria said in Bicolano.
Based on the SEC documents, Loria and his spouse, Roslyn Loria, were still registered as Makapa’s majority shareholders during their latest annual meeting in March. Loria held 59% of the total shares, amounting to P126.850 million, and his spouse held 20% of the total shares, amounting to P43 million.
After several amendments to their records, the latest report in October already indicates that Loria and his wife were not included among Makapa’s shareholders. However, their two daughters, Patricia Karla Loria and Karla Nicole Loria Elvira, remain among the top shareholders, each holding 24% of the shares, amounting to P35.5 million each.
Following Loria’s divestment, the total shares of Makapa Corporation decreased from P215 million in March to P148.15 million in October — a reduction of almost half. All other remaining registered shareholders are also related to Loria and his spouse.
From 2021 to 2023, Makapa secured government contracts worth some P642.5 million in Albay’s 1st District, P665.3 million in the 2nd District, P445 million in the 3rd District, and P638.5 million in Sorsogon’s 2nd District. The projects include the following:
- Construction of Quinale “B” River Flood Mitigation Structure, Malinao, Albay – P144.7 million
- Construction of Nabonton River Flood Mitigation Structure, Barangay Tomolin, Ligao City, Albay – P125.4 million
- Construction of Revetment along Quinale River, Downstream of Comun Bridge, Left Side, Barangay Ogob, Malinao, Albay – P101.3 million
- Construction of Quinale “A” River Flood Mitigation Structure (Polangui and Libon Section), Polangui and Libon, Albay – P125.3 million
- Rehabilitation of Revetment along Quinale River, Barangay Labnig-Tuliw, Malinao, Albay – P101.3 million
- Rehabilitation of San Jose Flood Control Structure, San Jose, Libon, Albay – P48.99 million
- Rehabilitation of Revetment, Upstream of San Fernando Bridge 2, Right Side, Barangay Bonga (Upper), Bacacay, Albay – P49 million
- Rehabilitation of Revetment, Upstream of Barangay Bonga Spillway, Barangay Mabinit, Legazpi City, Albay – P57.8 million
- Construction/Rehabilitation of Bonga Flood Control System, Legazpi City, Albay – P39.2 million
- Construction/Rehabilitation of Padang River Flood Mitigation Structure, Brgy. Buyuan and Brgy. Padang, Legazpi City, Albay – P47.1 million
- Construction/Improvement/Rehabilitation of Cadac-an River Flood Mitigation Structure, Irosin, Sorsogon – P174.4 million
- Rehabilitation of Revetment along Quinale River, Downstream of Comun Bridge, Left Side, Barangay Comun-Ogob, Malinao, Albay – P48.5 million
- Rehabilitation/Improvement of Revetment along Quinale River, Downstream of Comun Bridge, Left Side, Barangay Comun-Ogob, Malinao, Albay – P101.3 million
- Construction/Improvement/Rehabilitation of Cadac-an River Flood Mitigation Structure, Juban, Sorsogon – P174.7 million
- Rehabilitation of Revetment, Upstream of Salvacion Spillway, Left Side, Barangay Anoling-Cabagnan, Camalig, Albay – P57.9 million
- Rehabilitation of San Agustin River Wall, Libon, Albay – P19.6 million
- Construction/Improvement of Talisay River Flood Mitigation System (Zone IV Section), Libon, Albay – P48.2 million
- Rehabilitation of Revetment, Downstream of Budiao Spillway, Barangay Budiao, Daraga, Albay – P57.9 million
- Construction/Extension of Fatima Seawall (Phase 3), Tabaco City – P96.5 million
- Construction/Rehabilitation of Pantao Flood Mitigation System, Pantao, Libon, Albay – P48.1 million
Rappler has repeatedly sought comments from Loria’s office since Friday, October 24, but has only been redirected to the office’s chief of staff. Despite several follow-ups, Rappler has yet to receive a response regarding the matter. We will update this story once Loria’s office provides a statement. – Rappler.com
