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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DPWH imposes lifetime ban on Wawao Builders, SYMS Construction over flood control projects controversy

DPWH imposes lifetime ban on Wawao Builders, SYMS Construction over flood control projects controversy

Published Sep 4, 2025 01:56 pm

At A Glance

  • DPWH issues lifetime ban on Wawao Builders and SYMS Construction.
  • Bulacan flood control projects falsely declared completed.
  • Sanctions announced by DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon during inspections.
  • President Marcos expresses outrage over P55-million Baliuag project.
  • Former Bulacan First District Engineer Henry Alcantara dismissed; charges to be filed with the Ombudsman.
Newly appointed DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon addresses the media during a Palace briefing on Monday, September 1, 2025, outlining his plan to order the courtesy resignations of ranking officials nationwide as part of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s drive to “clean house” at the agency. (PCO)
Newly appointed DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon addresses the media during a Palace briefing on Monday, September 1, 2025, outlining his plan to order the courtesy resignations of ranking officials nationwide as part of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s drive to “clean house” at the agency. (PCO)
Wawao Builders and SYMS Construction, contractors behind flood control projects in Bulacan, were slapped with a lifetime ban in participating in any government projects, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) disclosed on Thursday, Sept. 4.
DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon announced the sanctions during an inspection of a flood control project in Barangay Sipat, Plaridel.
The project, handled by Wawao Builders, had been declared completed in 2024, even though actual construction only began three weeks before Dizon’s inspection.
“Ang tawag ko rito, patay na pero pinipilit buhayin kasi nabayaran na siya e noong last year. Sabi dito ng DPWH, 100% completed na ito last year (What I call this is ‘dead,’ but they are trying to revive it because it was already paid for last year. The DPWH here said it was 100 percent completed last year),” Dizon said.
“Pero siguro, three weeks ago, umiinit, nag-iimbestiga na ang Senado at Kongreso, nagalit na ang Pangulo, pinipilit buhayin yung patay. Wala na. Klarong-klaro ghost project ito (But maybe, three weeks ago, when the issue started heating up, the Senate and Congress were already investigating, and the President was already angry, they were trying to revive the dead. It’s over. This is clearly a ghost project),” he added.
SYMS Construction handled a P55-million flood control project in Barangay Piel, Baliuag, which was visited by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Aug. 20.
The President expressed outrage after discovering no actual work had been done despite official records marking the project as complete.
“Extremely, more than disappointed, I’m actually… I’m getting very angry with what’s happening here… 220 meters, P55 million, completed ang record ng Public Works, [pero] walang ginawa (I am extremely disappointed—actually, more than disappointed, I am getting very angry at what is happening here. The 220-meter, P55-million project is marked as completed in Public Works records, yet no work has been carried out),” Marcos said.
Dizon also confirmed the dismissal of former Bulacan First District Engineer Henry Alcantara, who admitted during a House hearing that he issued a completion certificate for the Baliuag project without actual work.
“Next week, I will ask DPWH Legal to recommend filing the appropriate charges with the Ombudsman. This is clearly a criminal act involving P100 million—this is outright theft,” he added.

Related Tags

DPWH Wawao Builders SYMS Construction lifetime ban flood control
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