Bonoan: DPWH looking into 'ghost' flood control projects in Bulacan

Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan on Tuesday expressed belief that "ghost" flood control projects worth P5.9 billion mar some areas in Bulacan.

In his interpellation during a Senate blue ribbon committee hearing, Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada said his office received reports that there are "ghost projects" in Malolos City and the municipalities of Calumpit and Hagonoy in Bulacan.

Estrada said that among the contractors allegedly involved is the Wawao Builders—one of the 15 contractors named by President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. that supposedly got 20% of the total P545 billion budget of flood control projects in the country.

Bonoan said that the DPWH is still validating such reports of ghost projects, but when asked by Estrada if he believes the existence of such, the Secretary said, "In all honesty Your Honor, I think so." 

"There are district offices that try to continue the validation of some of the projects. Let me just point out, Your Honor, that many of these projects… I have mentioned, some of the projects were implemented in 2021 [and] 2022," Bonoan said.

The DPWH chief further said he learned of the possible existence of the ghost projects "just lately."

"There are already information coming… There are people actually in the department, that are… There are people who can actually testify, Your Honor. There are projects that we are intensively validating," Bonoan added when asked how he learned of such. 

Estrada then asked Bonoan how much was awarded to Wawao Builders, but the DPWH chief initially said that he had no figures to show. This infuriated the senator. 

"Mayroong mga figures diyan, 'wag niyo ko lolokohin dito. Ilabas niyo kung magkano 'yung in-award niyo du'n sa Wawao Builders, mga ghost projects. We'll wait for it… Nakakadiri kayo," Estrada said. 

(You have figures there to show. Don't try to fool me. Tell us how much you awarded Wawao Builders, the ghost projects. We'll wait for it... You are disgusting.)

According to Bonaoan, Wawao Builders had 85 projects worth P5.971 billion in the first engineering district of Bulacan. He said these projects were supposedly implemented beginning fiscal year 2022 up to 2025.

"There seems to be some ghost projects that have actually been reported, Your Honor. Yes, we're investigating … They'll be coming up with a financial and physical report in one week's time in my office," he added.

Wawao Builders had no representative in the hearing.

Asked what actions the DPWH is going to take once such ghost projects are proven true, Bonoan said necessary charges will be filed against those responsible. 

He also confirmed that the DPWH will be issuing preventive suspension orders within the month against those involved in anomalous flood control projects. 

"We will file all the necessary charges, Your Honor, and ghost projects are actually, sabi ko nga (as I said), anybody involved in the implementation of those projects should be answerable," Bonoan said. 

QM Builders

Meanwhile, Senator Win Gatchalian questioned how some of the contractors were able to bag flood control projects when they have low paid-up capital, based on documents he acquired from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). 

One of the contractors, he noted, is QM Builders which supposedly had a contract amounting P7.383 billion, when its paid-up capital is only at P1.250 million.

QM Builders owner Allan Quirante, meanwhile, denied this, saying his construction company was "not yet activated" and not yet included in biddings.

"Siguro 'yung nakuha niyo sa hardware namin, hindi sa construction. Kasi 'yung hardware namin pareho 'yung pangalan—QM Builders 'yung isa, construction supply, at ‘yung isa QM Builders na construction talaga," Quirante explained. 

(Maybe the documents you acquired relate to our hardware business, not our construction enterprise. Our hardware business has the same name as the construction business—QM Builders.) 

Marcoleta then asked Quirante how QM Builders was included in the 15 contractors named by Marcos if the company has supposedly not yet made any flood control projects.

"Pasensya, Mr. Chair kasi medyo nahiya ako … ‘Yung data is mali eh. Kasi ang totoo, ‘yung 414 projects na nakuha sa QM , totoo lang ah, is only 86 projects, Mr. Chair," the businessman answered. 

(Apologies, Mr. Chair, I'm a bit embarassed. The data is false. What is correct is that QM only had 86 projects, as opposed to the 414 projects mentioned.)

Gavel in hand

Marcoleta then got infuriated over the supposed conflicting answers by Quirante. 

"Baka hindi ka makauwi sa araw na ito, nagsisinunggaling ka na naman eh. Ang sabi ng Pangulo kasama ka sa 15. 'Wag mong mamaliitin ito … may problema dito eh," Marcoleta said. 

(You may not be able to go home today because you’re lying. The President said you're included in the 15 contractors. Don’t belittle this…we have a problem here.) 

"Mayroon akong hawak na martilyo rito, sinasabi ko sa 'yo. 'Wag kang tatawa-tawa kasi hindi nakakatawa ito, ah. Dito lang nagsisinunggaling ka na eh," the senator added. 

(I have a gavel in my hand here. Don't laugh because this is not funny. You’re already lying here.) 

Senator JV Ejercito, meanwhile, dubbed the revelation as "kleptospirosis," a play on words of kleptomania and the water-borne disease leptospirosis. 

"Dahil inamin ng DPWH na may ghost flood control projects, ang tawag na  dyan ay Kleptospirosis! Garapalang pagnanakaw!" Ejercito said. 

(Since the DPWH admitted that there are ghost flood control projects, that should be called Kleptospirosis! That's a massive theft.) — VDV, GMA Integrated News