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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Palace saddened over 'substandard' DPWH projects in Bulacan

Palace saddened over 'substandard' DPWH projects in Bulacan

Published Sep 24, 2025 01:31 pm
PCO Undersecretary Claire Castro holds a press briefing at Malacañan on Aug. 27, 2025. (Betheena Unite)
PCO Undersecretary Claire Castro holds a press briefing at Malacañan on Aug. 27, 2025. (Betheena Unite)
Malacañang has lambasted those individuals who benefitted from infrastructure projects in Bulacan, which were revealed to be substandard, saying the projects should have been for the greater good, yet it only benefited those who only want to enrich themselves.
In a Palace briefing on Wednesday, Sept. 24, Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said President Marcos was saddened over the revelation.
Dismissed Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) assistant district engineer Brice Hernandez admitted on Tuesday that all infrastructure projects in Bulacan, from 2019 up to present, are substandard.
"Unang-una po, nakakalungkot na malaman iyan (First of all, it is saddening to learn that)," Castro said when sought for reaction on Hernandez's revelation at the continuation of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on the flood control project controversy.
"Hindi lamang po ang Pangulo ang malulungkot, lahat po tayong taumbayan ay malulungkot po sa nakita at nasabing ganiyan na kumbaga itong mga proyektong ‘to ay para sa kalahatan, para sa ikagiginhawa ng mga kababayan natin pero ang mga gumiginhawa ay iyong mga tao lamang na siyang nagpapayaman (It is not only the President who will be saddened, but all of us, the people, will also be saddened to see and hear that these projects, which are supposed to be for everyone and meant to improve the lives of our fellow citizens, end up benefiting only those who are enriching themselves)," Castro added.
Meanwhile, the Palace official said the classrooms turned over by the DPWH to the Department of Education (DepEd), which remain unfinished, should finally be completed and must be utilized.
This after DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara disclosed that around 1,000 classrooms nationwide remain incomplete.
"Kung ano po ang dapat mapakinabangan at kailangan maayos, dapat pong ayusin sa pinakamabilis na panahon para po mapakinabangan po dahil sayang po ang mga pera na nagamit dito (Whatever should be utilized and needs to be fixed must be addressed at the soonest possible time so it can be put to good use, because otherwise the money spent on it would just go to waste)," Castro said.
"Kung kinakailangan kumpunihin, dapat makumpuni nang agaran (If repairs are needed, they must be carried out immediately)," Castro added.

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President Marcos flood control mess DPWH Bulacan
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