The Commission on Audit (COA) has flagged the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) over “technical defects” in “unusable or idle” 747 infrastructure projects that cost the government P6.45 billion due to improper supervision and monitoring in 2024.

In its 2024 annual audit report on DPWH, the COA said that the 747 projects "were not executed in accordance with the provisions stipulated in the respective Contract Agreements."

As a result, it said, the projects incurred losses of P6,459,027,368.59 on the part of the government.

The COA said the regional offices with defects and deficiencies in their infrastructure projects include five District Engineering Offices (DEOs) in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR); one DEO in Region 1; 11 in Region II; seven DEOs in Region IV-B; seven DEOs in Region V; nine DEOs in Region VI; two DEOs in Region VIII; two DEOs in Region IX; five DEOs in Region X; and two DEOs in Region XIII.

It said that in the CAR, there were 31 projects amounting to P54,662,485.64 with various items of works that were not in accordance with the standard specifications of the contract.

State auditors, the COA said, discovered longitudinal cracks in the pavement, and there was overpayment of actual accomplishment.

There were three projects identified in Region 1 worth P45,724,561.58 with "remarkable structural and settlement cracks and major scaling" in various intermittent sections, it said.

In Region II, the audit team identified 183 projects with defects worth P52,356,310.21 such as damaged pavements, water leaks at roofing slabs, and collapsed revetment walls, among many other things.

It also said that the DPWH lost P84,605,731.04 in Region IV-B because of 153 projects with temperature cracks, busted bulbs, corner cracks, major and minor scaling, collapsed structures, as well as damaged and overturned sections on the constructed slope protection.

In Region V, the COA said the DPWH lost P4,002,698.32 because of 31 projects with potholes, use of substandard items, plaster debonding, soil erosion, and several other issues.

The COA said Region VI lost P3,458,963,863 in 130 projects that have deficiencies such as longitudinal cracks, pavement defects, and structural issues.

The amount lost by Region VIII was "unquantified" for 48 projects that have insufficient asphalt sealant, missing items and structures, cracked coating, and other issues, it said

It also said that in Region IX, there were nine projects that incurred deficiencies of P4,750,505.67 because of absence of reflectorized thermoplastic pavement as well as non-conformity with the standard specifications of the contract.

Region X had 153 projects that incurred losses worth P2,730,888,757.92 because the infrastructure projects were improperly executed and were reported as completed but were, in truth, deficient or unfinished, the COA said.

Lastly, the COA said there was a loss of P13,072,454.73 for Region XIII because of unnecessary items of work resulting in extra work in excessive quantity and non-conformity with the standard specifications of the contract.

On deficiencies in implementation, the COA identified 69 projects from Region 1 and Region IV-B worth a total of P5,307,858,362.56.

"The foregoing technical defects and deficiencies may compromise the safety of the public, cause further destruction of the infrastructures and ultimately result in the wastage of government funds and resources if not immediately addressed in accordance with the above provisions of the Revised IRR of Republic Act No. 9184," the COA said.

It recommended that the DPWH require contractors concerned to immediately repair and correct the noted deficiencies and deliver the required items of works that are necessary in the implementation of infrastructure projects.

Also, the COA wanted the DPWH to conduct regular and periodic monitoring and supervision on all infrastructure projects to ensure that all projects are properly implemented in accordance with the approved program of works.