The Commission on Audit (COA) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) have jointly recommended to the Ombudsman the filing of criminal cases against contractors and officials involved in fraudulent flood-control projects in Bulacan.
This move follows President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to hold accountable those who profited from “ghost” and substandard projects.
COA Chairperson Gamaliel Cordoba and DPWH Secretary Vivencio “Vince” Dizon formally submitted five Fraud Audit Reports (FARs) on Monday, which will serve as evidence in building cases for administrative and criminal liability.
“The president gave a stern directive to speed up the filing of cases against the contractors and DPWH personnel involved. He repeatedly emphasized the instruction to move quickly, expressing his anger and frustration during the inspection of the repeated ghost projects and substandard work. He does not want any delays in the process,” Dizon said.
The contractors named as allegedly involved in irregularities in the implementation of projects were Wawao Builders, St. Timothy Construction Corp. and SYMS Construction Trading.
Wawao Builders
Auditors who conducted onsite inspections found that two of Wawao’s projects in Calumpit, Bulacan, were already “crumbling with sections showing advanced deterioration.”
The P77.2 million project in Barangay Frances, declared 100 percent complete, was found to be far short of its proposed length.
The audit team said, “shoddy workmanship issues were easily seen. Numerous cracks along the dike crest were observed, with an approximate total crack length of 3.9 meters and with crack width varying from 2 to 3.2 centimeters. Also, uneven concrete surfaces along the structure were evident.”
A second project, the P74.04-million flood mitigation structure in Barangay Sta. Lucia, was supposedly 90 percent complete, but inspectors reported the “dike tilting, misaligned, and riddled with cracks.”
St. Timothy red flags
The COA also reported “red flags” in St. Timothy’s P96.5-million Rehabilitation of River Protection Structure project and the P39.19-million Flood Control Structure project, both in Calumpit.
Findings included “overstated accomplishments” in dredging and embankment work, unverifiable materials, and a lack of connection to other flood-control works, leaving the flood threat unresolved.
SYMS Construction
SYMS Construction’s P55.73 million project in Baliuag, Bulacan, was a challenge to even locate, with DPWH representatives initially pinpointing the wrong site.
When found, auditors discovered “no construction was found at the site,” even though the contractor “has been fully paid as of June 30, 2025.”
For these projects, various DPWH officials from the Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office, including Engineer Henry Alcantara and Assistant District Engineer Brice Ericson Hernandez, were held liable, along with company representatives and board members.
“This is only the beginning of our efforts to reform the agency. We will make sure that everyone involved will be held accountable and face imprisonment. After this, we will also recommend the filing of criminal cases against those proven to be corrupt within the DPWH,” Dizon stressed.
During his first flag-raising ceremony at the DPWH Central Office, Dizon urged employees to help him “purge this institution of wrongdoers.”
Despite the controversy, he expressed confidence that the majority of DPWH personnel are “good, honest, hardworking, and loyal government workers of this country.”
“We have to save DPWH,” he concluded, emphasizing the need to restore public trust.
