Who are the top contractors that bagged Bicol flood control projects?

Projects have been poured in flood-prone Bicol, making it the region with the third-highest budget for flood control, next to Central Luzon (No. 1) and the National Capital Region (No. 2).

Based on the data acquired by GMA News Research from the “Sumbong sa Pangulo” website, the Bicol Region has 866 flood control projects, totaling P49.61 billion in contract cost.

Within the region, Albay is the province with the most number of flood control projects in Bicol (273 projects, P16.17 B), while Camarines Sur leads in terms of contract cost (250 projects, P17.50 B).

Here are the top 15 contractors awarded with flood control projects in the Bicol Region:

Centerways Construction and Development Inc.

Based in Sorsogon City, Centerways Construction and Development Inc., both as solo contractor and co-contractor, bagged 84 projects worth P5.23 billion in the Bicol Region; 56 of these 84 projects are in Sorsogon.

Centerways secured 61 flood projects worth P3.72 billion as a solo contractor, and has 23 other projects with co-contractors worth P1.51 billion

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. earlier named Centerways Construction as one of the 15 contractors with the most flood control projects, worth billions.

Centerways obtained P5.4 billion in flood control projects in the Bicol Region and Central Visayas, which translates to 0.998% of the total contracts disclosed by President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.

Centerways’ projects in Regions V and VII total 87 projects worth P5.55 billion, equivalent to 0.88% of the total number of projects and 0.998% of the total contract cost of projects on the sumbongsapangulo.ph website.

Escudero affirmed that Centerways president Lawrence Lubiano is his friend and campaign contributor in the 2022 elections, but said he had nothing to do with the latter's flood control projects with the government.

Sen. Francis "Chiz" Escudero made the statement as he denied involvement in any flood control projects in Sorsogon, his home province. 

Hi-Tone Construction & Development Corp.

Hi-Tone Construction & Development Corp. is the second leading contractor in the Bicol Region, acquiring 44 flood control projects worth P3.45 billion as a solo contractor. If its projects will include those it undertook with co-contractors, the number will go up to 51 projects worth P4.15 billion.

As a solo contractor, it secured 17 flood control projects worth P1.45 billion in Camarines Sur and another 20 projects worth P1.41 billion in Albay.

Among its projects are the three riverbank protection/esplanade along the Barit River in Barangays Sagrada Familia Section Phase 2 and Sta. Justina Section in Buhi, Camarines Sur worth P419.6 million.

These include:

• Construction of Flood Mitigation Structure along Bicol River, Barangay Palsong Section, Bula, Camarines Sur worth P139,925,000.00 (with Kenzai Builders Corp.);
• Construction of Riverbank Protection/Esplanade along Barit River, Brgy. Sagrada Familia Section Phase 2, Buhi, Camarines Sur worth P139,859,923.40; and
• Construction of Riverbank Protection/Esplanade along Barit River, Brgy. Sta. Justina Section, Buhi, Camarines Sur worth P139,819,182.00

With its main office located in Albay, Hi-Tone is headed by president Edgar Acosta, while former Ako Bicol Party-list representative Christopher Co is the co-founder.

Based on its 2024 general information sheet from the SEC, Co no longer owns Hi-Tone.

On September 1, Acosta was not physically present during the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on the questionable flood control projects in the country, but a representative attended instead.

Bicol Goldrock Construction Corporation

Based in Camarines Sur, Bicol Goldrock Construction Corporation ranked third among the top contractors in the Bicol Region. 

As a solo contractor, the company has 44 flood control projects worth P3.23 billion in the region. If another project with a co-contractor is included, the total would be 45 worth P3.3 billion.

Based on the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board website, Bicol Goldrock’s validity of registration is until May 10, 2027.

GCI Construction and Dev't. Corp.

Located in Pili, Camarines Sur, GCI Construction And Dev't. Corp. is the fourth leading flood control project contractor in the Bicol Region.

As a single contractor, GCI has 28 flood control projects worth P2.52 billion in the region, of which 27 projects are in Camarines Sur and one is in Albay. It also has one other project worth P138.48 million as a co-contractor in Camarines Sur.

Among its top three projects in Camarines Sur is the Bicol River cut-off channel 3 flood mitigation structure in Milaor town and the Bicol River flood mitigation structures in Bula and Nabua towns.

Sunwest Inc. 

Sunwest Inc., formerly Sunwest Construction & Development Corp., is the fifth leading flood control project contractor in the Bicol Region.

It has the most expensive flood control project in the region, based on the list on the “Sumbong sa Pangulo” website.

Sunwest was the contractor of the Baao Lakeshore dike road (Circumferential Road) in Baao, Camarines Sur, which was completed in 2024 and amounted to P241 million.

It has 10 flood control projects worth P1.3 billion in Camarines Sur.

Sunwest also has five flood control projects in Albay worth P634.99 million.

In a “24 Oras” report, Sunwest got the largest amount among the 15 construction companies that secured 20% of the P545 billion allocated for flood-control projects. 

Sunwest obtained P10.1 billion for 78 flood control projects across the country, 17 of which are in Bicol and worth P2.33 billion.

Ako Bikol party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co was a former incorporator of Sunwest but has reportedly divested.

Makapa Corporation

As solo contractor, Makapa has 24 projects worth P2,246,732,017.16 16. It has two other projects with co-contractors worth P144.6 million.

Ramarplus Incorporated

Ramarplus has 23 projects worth P1,701,743,641.60.

EUS Construction

As a solo contractor, EUS has 25 projects worth P1,276,788,396.11 It has 5 other projects with co-contractors worth P444.4 million.

Richmar Construction

Richmar has 15 projects worth P1,091,384,722.07.

Steven Construction & Supply

As a solo contractor, Steven Construction has 18 projects worth P990,154,555.74  It has 17 other projects with co-contractors worth P1.12 billion.

Brentmin Roofing Enterprise

As a solo contractor, Brentmin has 19 projects worth P870,058,979.38. It has 3 other projects with co-contractors worth P236.66 million.

Partido Construction & Supply

Partido has 10 projects worth P840,204,347.38.

NFH Construction Supply

As a solo contractor, NFH has 14 projects worth P837,829,642.03. It has 3 other projects with a co-contractor worth P217.12 million.

Muntopar Builders Corp.

As a solo contractor, Muntopar has 18 projects worth P829,911,540.79. It has 1 other project with a co-contractor worth P72.32 million.

An eye opener 

Kristoffer Berse, dean of the University of the Philippines Diliman - National College of Public Administration and Governance (NCPAG), said the issues surrounding the flood control projects in the country should be an eye-opener to the public.

“Dapat ito ay maging isang eye opener para sa lahat, at maging lesson para sa atin para sa mga darating na eleksyon ay mas magiging mapili tayo sa mga politiko na binoboto natin,” Berse told GMA News Online.

(This should be an eye-opener for everyone and a lesson for us to be more discerning in choosing the politicians we vote for in the upcoming elections.) 

“Dapat sinisiguro natin na hindi natin papaboran ang mga politiko na may mga business interest at kaya mga negosyante na tumatakbong sa politika,” he added.

(We must ensure that we do not favor politicians who have business interests, especially those who are businessmen running for office.)

Marcos has issued an Executive Order that will formally create the Independent Commission that will look into anomalies of flood control projects.

“I agree dapat lang magkaroon ng independent body kasi nga as of this moment may mga allegation, suspicion na may mga kasabwat na ibat ibang government officials. Di maiiwasan na kapag ang imbestigasyon ay gagawin lang Executive or Legislative, mababahiran iyon ng pagdududa,” Berse said.

(I agree that there should be an independent investigative body because there are allegations that some government officials are accomplices. Suspicion inevitably arises if the investigation is done by the Executive or Legislative branch.

Aside from the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, the House Infrastructure Committee is set to begin its own investigation this month.

It is composed of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, the Committee on Public Accounts, and the Committee on Public Works and Highways.

Berse said the independent investigative body should be composed of non-partisan civil society groups, along with the academe and previous government officials.

“Pwedeng kami sa NCPAG, halimbawa (For example, we at NCPAG), we're very willing to volunteer ourselves and help in that independent study if there's a need to be a representative of the academe,” he said.

In ensuring that flood control projects are fully implemented, Berse pointed out the importance of transparency.

“Transparency sa lahat ng proseso mula sa planning, budgeting at bidding (Transparency in all processes, from planning and budgeting to bidding),” he said.—LDF/RSJ/NB, GMA Integrated News