Bonoan appoints new DPWH 4-B regional director replacing Pacanan
CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro – Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel M. Bonoan has appointed Engr. Editha R. Babaran as the new officer-in-charge regional director of the DPWH-Mimaropa (Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan) following a Senate investigation on questionable multi-million flood-control projects in Oriental Mindoro.
Babaran’s appointment was contained in Special Order No. 140, Series of 2025, signed by Bonoan a few days after he announced a nationwide reshuffle of regional directors and district engineers of DPWH.
Prior to her assignment in the region, Babaran served as assistant regional director of DPWH-Region 3.
Babaran was a district engineer of the DPWH-Isabela Third Engineering District prior to her post as assistant district engineer of the DPWH-Isabela First Engineering District Office.
Babaran replaced Engr. Gerald A. Pacanan whose name was mentioned several times in the Senate probe.
Sen. Raffy Tulfo in his expose during the investigation linked Pacanan to controversial protection dikes and other flood control projects in the region.
Sen. Panfilo Lacson claimed that aside from alleged substandard flood control projects, a ghost project amounting to P192 million in Sitio Dike, Barangay Apitong, Naujan was discovered.
An inspection conducted by the local government of Naujan, however, showed that the reported ghost project was actually constructed at the boundary of the sitio and neighboring Barangay Santo Nino.