The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has discovered three ghost or non-existent flood control projects in Oriental Mindoro, even though they were funded under the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA).
DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon, on an inspection trip with Oriental Mindoro Governor Humerlito Dolor in Brgy. Tagumpay, Oriental Mindoro yesterday, discovered that flood control projects listed for the Panggalan River, Tubig River and Catuiran River, were bereft of structures, had no ongoing construction, and no physical projects on-site whatsoever.
He also found that an existing flood control project in the same barangay was substandard.
“Wala akong nakikitang proyekto dito. Guni-guni ito, wala akong nakikitang proyekto eh [I don’t see any project here. This is an illusion; there’s nothing here],” declared Dizon.
Dizon emphasized that project details are clearly specified in the GAA to promote transparency through line-item budgeting, allowing the public to verify whether projects are real or not.
Following the discovery, Dizon revealed that the DPWH has detected a recurring pattern of irregularities involving the bidding process, issuance of notice to proceed (NTP), and project payments.
“Ang nakikita natin dito, mayroon talagang pattern. Halos pare-pareho. ‘Yung magkakasunod na araw ng bidding, notice to proceed at payment. Hindi ako magtataka sa ibang lugar na ganun din, [What we’re seeing here is that there’s really a pattern. It’s almost the same consecutive days for the bidding, notice to proceed, and payment. I wouldn’t be surprised if the same thing is happening in other areas as well],” Dizon said while inspecting another flood control project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.
Dizon said the DPWH has already received nearly 100 complaints and reports regarding ghost or substandard projects, which the agency vowed to address immediately by filing the necessary cases.
In related development, Dizon has formally requested the Department of Justice (DOJ) to issue an Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order (ILBO) against former DPWH undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, who is among those being linked to the alleged flood control projects anomalies.
“The immediate issuance of the ILBO is crucial, especially since lawmakers conducting an investigation in aid of legislation intend to invite former Usec. Bernardo to testify,” Dizon said.
He added that the Bureau of Immigration and other law enforcement agencies must remain vigilant to prevent any attempt by Bernardo or other individuals under investigation from leaving the country.
The DPWH vowed to pursue accountability and restore public trust by ensuring that all irregularities surrounding flood control projects are fully investigated and prosecuted.
Earlier this week, Dizon inspected a P96.5-million “ghost” flood control project in Barangay Sipat, Plaridel, Bulacan, where he discovered that construction had hastily been started only three weeks ago despite the project being certified as complete on the Sumbong sa Pangulo website. The project was awarded to Wawao Builders, one of the 15 firms that secured most flood control projevtsd from July 2022 to May 2025.
