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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Leviste bares possible 'pre-ordering' of infra projects by contractors; seeks answers from Bonoan, Cabral

Leviste bares possible 'pre-ordering' of infra projects by contractors; seeks answers from Bonoan, Cabral

Published Nov 19, 2025 06:52 pm

At A Glance

  • Batangas 1st district Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste wants answers from former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials regarding the supposed dubious practice of "pre-ordering" contracts of infrastructure projects particularly under the 2025 national budget.
Batangas 1st district Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)
Batangas 1st district Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)


Batangas 1st district Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste wants answers from former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials regarding the supposed dubious practice of "pre-ordering" contracts of infrastructure projects particularly under the 2025 national budget.
This, as Leviste doubled down on his allegation Wednesday, Nov. 19 that his House colleague, Construction Workers Solidarity (CWS) Party-list Rep. Edwin Gardiola was the "top DPWH contractor in Congress".
Leviste--who has been on a crusade against anomalous flood control and other infrastructure projects--first made this claim Tuesday when he visited the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI).
In a press conference at the House of Representatives Wednesday, presented new documentary evidence indicating that Gardiola pre-ordered over ₱20 billion worth of contracts from the DPWH even before the 2025 National Expenditure Program (NEP)--the precursor to the General Appropriations Act (GAA)--was approved in Congress.
Leviste released a list from the office of then-DPWH undersecretary Cathy Cabral dated Aug. 30, 2024 of projects that DPWH ended up awarding to companies linked to Gardiola in 2025.
As of August last year, the 2025 NEP--which emanates from the executive branch--was still being tackled at the House of Representatives.
"What I can say is that the fact that these projects were grouped together in a list aa of Aug. 30, 2024, and a year later ended up being awarded to Congressman Gardiola-linked companies I think provides strong evidence saying that ginagawa ang budget pa lang (while the budget measure is still being crafted), the likes of Congressman Gardiola have been able to pre-order projects," Leviste said.
The budget measure in this context is the General Appropriations Bill (GAB), the basis of which is the annual NEP.
"Before the budget is even completed, Congressman-cousinGardiola was able to pre-order over P20 billion of project from the DPWH. And again, the NEP is prepared by the DPWH, not Congress," said the neophyte legislator from Batangas.
"I think that former [DPWH] secretary Manny Bonoan and Undersecretary Catalina Cabral can explain why the list as of Aug, 30, 2024 somehow groups together the projects that ended up being awarded to contractors linked to Congressman Gardiola," Leviste pointed out.
President Marcos sacked Bonoan last Sept. 2 in response to the public outrage over the flood control projects corruption scandal, which also involved lawmakers.
Leviste said the potential information from Bonoan an Cabral could be the missing link for the ICI and the Ombudsman to establish that Gardiola--also a Batangas resident--made arrangements to rig bids in the DPWH.
P100-B projects cornered? 
The list presented during the presser included budgets for projects in Leviste’s district: ₱514.25 million for roads in Tuy, Batangas that were awarded to Readycon Trading and Construction Corporation (Readycon) and ₱280 million for roads in Calatagan, Batangas that were awarded to S-Ang Construction & General Trading, Inc. (S-Ang).
While S-Ang is owned by members of Gardiola’s family, Readycon is not; but Leviste said the project was proposed by and implemented for Gardiola according to officials of the DPWH and Gardiola himself.
Based on his research, Leviste said that Gardiola-linked companies have secured well over ₱100 billion in projects with the DPWH.
Leviste also presented the list of proponents of projects from the DPWH to the ICI, which told him Tuesday this was the first time they had seen such a list. Members of the ICI visited Leviste’s office Wednesday to go over the list as part of their investigation.
ICI's problem with DPWH
According to the son of Senator Loren Legarda, the ICI told him they have not been given unfettered access to DPWH offices or computers. This lack of documentary evidence on proponents has made it difficult for the commission to link the proponents of projects to the contractors.
Leviste said that ICI member Rogelio "Babes" Singson told him that Gardiola was the second largest DPWH contractor after Zaldy Co and ahead of the Discaya family. Co resigned as Ako Bicol Party-list representative last Sept. 29 amid the public firestorm.
This has made Gardiola the top DPWH contractor in Congress by default.
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