DPWH Flood Control Projects Face Corruption Allegations
Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan firmly denied any personal involvement in the alleged corruption within the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), particularly concerning flood control projects. The issue has drawn widespread attention as investigations intensify on questionable activities linked to the agency.
During a House of Representatives hearing, Bonoan was questioned about his accountability under the doctrine of command responsibility for the misconduct of district and regional DPWH officers. He acknowledged his role as the agency’s head but emphasized the delegation of authority to regional offices.
Command Responsibility and Delegated Authority
“Regarding command responsibility, of course, I am at the top of the entire agency. But there are authorities that have been delegated to the district and regional offices,” Bonoan explained. He added that the department has completed necessary documentation and imposed sanctions on the implicated district offices.
He was unequivocal in rejecting any tolerance for corrupt behavior. “Absolutely, on my part. No, no, no, no. I don’t even tolerate this kind of attitude. That’s why I am filing all the charges against anybody who is actually involved in these ghost projects that have been discovered by the president,” he asserted.
Monitoring and Preventive Measures
When asked if the national office should have monitored projects more closely before corruption surfaced, Bonoan reiterated that project implementation falls under district offices’ jurisdiction. “It’s actually under the authority of the district offices who implemented the project. That’s why initially I put them into floating status, and then today I think I issued the preventive suspension,” he said.
He further clarified that while the national office oversees the agency, operational responsibilities are lodged in the district offices.
Bribery Attempt Linked to Flood Control Projects
Over the weekend, authorities arrested a DPWH district engineer in Taal, Batangas, for allegedly trying to bribe Batangas 1st District Representative Leandro Leviste with over PHP 3.1 million. The bribe aimed to stop Leviste’s investigation into irregularities in local infrastructure projects.
Leviste confirmed plans to file charges against the engineer, Abelardo Calalo, who reportedly acted as a conduit for major contractors seeking to offer the congressman a cut of government contracts.
The lawmaker revealed that Calalo privately proposed that “several contractors” wanted to provide him a five to ten percent share of project contracts as a “standard operating procedure” within DPWH dealings.
Flood Control Projects Under Scrutiny in Bulacan
Bicol Saro party-list Representative Terry Ridon raised concerns about anomalous flood control projects in Bulacan, including one labeled a ghost project by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Ridon pointed out that these projects, managed by DPWH’s Bulacan First Engineering Office, were included in the 2025 National Expenditure Program (NEP).
He explained that inclusion in the NEP, which feeds into the General Appropriations Act, indicates the projects were proposed by the DPWH rather than local lawmakers.
Lawmakers Address Accusations
Oriental Mindoro 1st District Representative Arnan Panaligan similarly denied involvement in a flood control project controversy. He clarified that the DPWH proposed and implemented the project, and it was already part of the NEP when it reached Congress.
Following these claims, Bonoan assured that the department would verify the accuracy of information provided by the lawmakers. “We’ll try to find out if this is correct, maybe if it is NEP or initiated. But for as long as it is a ghost project, then we will have to file the necessary charges against those who are actually included in this program,” he stated.
He also confirmed issuing preventive suspensions against district offices involved in ghost projects.
Presidential Condemnation and Senate Warnings
The spotlight on DPWH flood control projects intensified after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. condemned government officials and contractors allegedly profiting from kickbacks in his fourth State of the Nation Address. He expressed deep disappointment, saying these individuals “should be ashamed of themselves.”
Senator Panfilo Lacson further highlighted the problem, warning that half of the nearly PHP 2 trillion allocated for flood control projects since 2011 may have been lost due to anomalies. Lacson’s team has traced suspicious contractors linked to various politicians, prompting calls for thorough investigations.
For more news and updates on DPWH flood control projects, visit Filipinokami.com.
