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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider COA recommends prosecution of DPWH officials, contractors in P309.5-M 'ghost" flood control projects in Bulacan

COA recommends prosecution of DPWH officials, contractors in P309.5-M 'ghost" flood control projects in Bulacan

Published Oct 25, 2025 12:25 pm  |  Updated Oct 25, 2025 01:03 pm
The Commission on Audit (COA) has recommended the prosecution of several officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office (DEO) and private contractors in the P309.55 million “ghost” flood control projects in Bulacan.
The COA’s recommendation was contained in the Fraud Audit Reports (FARs) it submitted to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI).
The first project with Syms Construction Trading as contractor was for P46,353,844.58. It was for the Flood Control Structure along Balagtas River Purok 2 in Barangay San Juan, Balagtas, Bulacan, which spans 70.40 linear meters using 21-meter sheet piles.
The COA’s audit team discovered that the DPWH has already paid for the entire contract cost despite the absence of any real accomplishment.
It said that when auditors checked with the DPWH's own Project and Contract Management Application website, it showed a "0.00%" project completion despite being tagged as "on-going."
The COA recommended that District Engineer Henry C. Alcantara, Assistant District Engineer Brice Ericson D. Hernandez, Planning and Design Section Chief Ernesto C. Galang, Engineer Jolo Mari V. Tayao, Project Engineer Lemuel Ephraim SD. Roque, Engineer John Michael Ramos, and Sally N. Santos of Syms Construction be held liable.
The second project, also by Syms Construction, was for the Flood Control Structure along Mayacapiz-Taliptip River, Barangay Perez in Bulakan, Bulacan with a total cost of P92,585,187.67. Syms Construction was tasked to construct a concrete slope protection spanning 148 linear meters using 21-meter sheet piles.
But despite the non-implementation of the construction, the COA said that the company was fully paid and the project was reported as "100% accomplished."
The COA flagged it as another “ghost” project and the DPWH Bulacan 1st DEO failed to provide any critical supporting documents to validate the project.
Those recommended liable are Alcantara, Hernandez, Galang, Engineer Jaypee D. Mendoza, Accountant Juanito C. Mendoza, and Santos.
The third project was awarded to the joint venture of L.R. Tiqui Builders, Inc. and M3 Konstract Corp. for the construction of Riverbank Protection Structure at Barangay Piel, Baliuag, Bulacan with a total contract cost of P96,499,605.71.
The two contractors were tasked to construct a riverbank protection structure spanning 228.40 linear meters and a concrete bridge.
The COA said that based on satellite imagery taken on Feb. 29, 2024 or just 22 days after the contract’s effectivity date, state auditors discovered that there was already an existing flood control structure at the approved location.
It said its auditors were pinpointed to a different project site by the DPWH Bulacan 1st DEO. When they got to the erroneously-identified site, the audit team proceeded to inspect the existing flood-control project, which they deemed "utterly failed to meet the project specifications."
Just like the first two projects, there were no necessary and critical supporting documents that validated the project, the COA said.
Recommended for prosecution were Alcantara, Hernandez, Galang, Ramos, Engineer Jaypee D. Mendoza, Engineer Irene DC. Ontingco, Engineer Joshua Blitz S. Roxas, Engineer Prince Earl P. Deocampo, and Luisito R. Tiquia.
The fourth project for P74,111,970.05 was awarded to Darcy & Anna Builders & Trading for the construction of Riverbank Protection Structure at Barangay Carillo, Hagonoy, Bulacan.
Under the contract, Arcy & Anna Builders was tasked to create a river protection structure spanning 161.20 linear meters using 15-meter and 12-meter steel sheet piles, front and back.
However, the COA said that another satellite image taken by the audit team showed that no structure was built at the approved project site even though the project was declared completed by Oct. 3, 2024.
Recommended for prosecution were Alcantara, Hernandez, Galang, Roque, Ramos, Tayao, and Darcy Kimel D. Respicio, the owner and manager of Darcy & Anna Builders.
"The individuals involved may face charges for graft and corruption under the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, malversation, and falsification of documents under the Revised Penal Code, as well as violations of COA Circular No. 2009-001 and the Government Procurement Reform Act," the COA said.
It added that the new batch of reports forms part of the 25 FARs it submitted to oversight bodies -- nine to the Office of the Ombudsman and 12 to the ICI.
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