DPWH imposes lifetime ban vs Wawao Builders, SYMS Construction Trading

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on Thursday said it has imposed a lifetime ban on contractors Wawao Builders and SYMS Construction Trading that were behind the reported ghost projects in Bulacan.

DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon made the statement during his inspection of a flood control project in Barangay Sipat, Plaridel, Bulacan, according to a report by GMA Integrated News’ Joseph Morong on Super Radyo dzBB.

“I will also order the perpetual lifetime blacklisting of Wawao Builders from DPWH and all their possible affiliates…Papa-ban din natin kasabay ng Wawao, yung SYMS,” Dizon told reporters.

Charges will be filed against the two contractors and all the people involved, including dummy owners, according to Dizon.

“We will also recommend the filing of charges with the Department of Justice against Wawao Builders and SYMS. And all the people involved here, both those who are clearly dummies and the real owners or the beneficial owners, depending on the investigation of the DOJ,” he said.

Wawao Builders was behind the ghost project visited by Dizon in Barangay Sipat, Plaridel on Thursday.

The flood control project was declared completed in 2024, but when Dizon inspected it, the contractor had just started to catch up with the construction three weeks ago, the radio news report said.

“Ang tawag ko rito, patay na pero pinipilit buhayin kasi nabayaran na siya e noong last year. Sabi dito ng DPWH, 100% completed na ito last year,” Dizon said.

(What I call it is 'dead,' but they’re trying to revive it because it was already paid for last year. The DPWH said here it was 100% completed last year.)

“Pero siguro, three weeks ago, umiinit, nag-iimbestiga na ang Senado at Kongreso, nagalit na ang Pangulo, pinipilit buhayin yung patay. Wala na. Klarong-klaro ghost project ito,” he added.

(But maybe, three weeks ago, when the issue started heating up, the Senate and Congress were already investigating, and the President was already angry, they were trying to revive the dead. It’s over. This is clearly a ghost project.)

JUST IN: Mga contractor na Wawao Builders at SYMS Construction Trading na nasa likod ng ghost projects sa Bulacan, habang buhay nang blacklisted — @DPWHph | via @Joseph_Morong pic.twitter.com/InVgS06IfC

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) September 4, 2025

Meanwhile, SYMS Construction Trading was behind the ghost project visited by President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. in Barangay Piel, Baliuag on August 20.

''Extremely, more than disappointed, I'm actually... I'm getting very angry with what's happening here... Nakaka... Papaano naman, 220 meters, P55 million. Completed ang record ng Public Works, [pero] walang ginawa,” Marcos said.

(This project is 220 meters, worth P55 million. It was 'completed' based on Public Works record, but nothing was done here.)

“Kahit isang araw hindi nagtrabaho... Puntahan ninyo, wala kayong makita kahit ano... Tuloy-tuloy ang pagbaha doon sa kabila,'' Marcos added.

(They did not even work for a day. You go there and you'll see nothing. The flood on the other side continues.)

Earlier, Dizon also announced that former Bulacan first district engineer Henry Alcantara has been dismissed from service amid the probe into anomalous flood control projects.

“He is now dismissed. I will call for summary dismissal of Henry Alcantara,” Dizon told reporters.

Aside from this, Dizon said he will also ask the DPWH Legal Service to recommend the filing of charges against Alcantara with the Ombudsman next week.

"Next week, I will ask the DPWH Legal to recommend filing of appropriate charges against Henry Alcantara. Well, obviously, criminal ito. Pagnanakaw ito e, P100 million... We will recommend filing of charges with the Ombudsman,” Dizon said.

In a House hearing on Tuesday, Alcantara admitted that he issued a certificate of completion on the P55 million flood control project in Baliwag town, which turned out to be a ghost project.  —Joviland Rita/ VAL, GMA Integrated News