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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 6 DPWH Baguio officials suspended over alleged project bid manipulation

6 DPWH Baguio officials suspended over alleged project bid manipulation

Published Sep 26, 2025 03:55 pm

At A Glance

  • Six Baguio City DEO officials suspended over alleged bid rigging.
  • Scheme reportedly favored select contractors in exchange for 1–3% of project costs.
  • Goldrich Construction and Trading allegedly secured 67% of city projects from 2022 to 2025.
  • Officials accused of falsifying reports and maintaining extravagant lifestyles.
  • DPWH to resolve case based on submitted explanations and available evidence.
Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince B. Dizon (Photo: DPWH)
Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince B. Dizon (Photo: DPWH)
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has ordered the preventive suspension of six officials of Baguio City District Engineering Office (DEO) over alleged rigging and manipulation of infrastructure project bids.
DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon, in a memorandum dated Friday, Sept. 26, said the suspension stemmed from complaints that the officials were involved in a scheme favoring certain contractors.
The scheme reportedly allowed select companies to corner a majority of city projects in exchange for one to three percent of the total contract cost.
Contractors allegedly involved included Goldrich Construction and Trading, which reportedly secured 67 percent of Baguio DEO projects from 2022 to 2025, excluding contracts granted to Tango-Romeo General Construction, allegedly a dummy or co-owned company of Goldrich.
The suspended officials are District Engineer Rene F. Zarate, Planning and Design Section Chief Cesario L. Rillera, Maintenance Section Chief Nora R. Delos Santos, Engineer II Jessie B. Ramos, Engineer II Frances Vincent H. Saloria, and Administrative Officer II Frigilda V. Legaspi, all members of the Bids and Awards Committee–Technical Working Group (BAC-TWG).
The memorandum also claimed some officials falsified project accomplishment reports to conceal delays and accelerate fund disbursement.
It further alleged that the officials displayed extravagant lifestyles, sudden increases in property and net worth, and frequent visits to nightclubs and bars, creating a toxic work environment.
Dizon warned that these actions could violate the 2025 Rules on Administrative Cases in the Civil Service (RACCS), including grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty, receiving personal fees or gifts, and conduct prejudicial to public interest.
The six officials were directed to submit written explanations under oath within five days, with failure to respond considered a waiver of their right to explain.
The department said it would resolve the matter based on available records and evidence.

Related Tags

DPWH Baguio City bid rigging administrative suspension construction projects
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