Dizon: Reports show 'ghost' flood control projects are nationwide

Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon on Thursday expressed belief that “ghost and very substandard” flood control projects are scattered nationwide. 

During the ongoing hearing of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, Dizon said that the agency received more than a hundred reports of such anomalous flood control projects in several parts of the country in just a span of two weeks. 

“Meron po tayong reports na nakuha sa La Union, Oriental Mindoro, Nueva Vizcaya, Eastern Samar, meron din Mindanao… Nakikita po natin na ‘di lang ito naka-sentro sa Bulacan lang, mukhang buong bansa po ito,” the DPWH chief said. 

(We have reports obtained in La Union, Oriental Mindoro, Nueva Vizcaya, Eastern Samar, and some areas in Mindanao... We can see that this issue is not just centered in Bulacan, it seems that these are in the whole country.) 

To recall, Lacson, in a privilege speech, said that Bulacan was the “most notorious” province when it comes to anomalies in flood control projects, claiming that a “well-organized syndicate” was behind the scheme. 

Dizon, meanwhile, said that the DPWH is now coordinating with the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) created by President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. through an executive order for the investigation of the received reports.

Asked by Senator Francis Pangilinan who the “topnotchers” were in the 100 reports of ghost and substandard flood control projects, Dizon said the investigation is still ongoing, but cases have been filed against construction companies Wawao Builders, SYMS Construction Trading, and St. Timothy Construction Corporation. 

Dizon also admitted that there is an “inherent flaw” in the system of DPWH, with some projects suddenly appearing like mushrooms. 

“Lalong lalo na sa mga proyektong inaaral at binubusisi ng komite ngayon, madalas o in fact, most of the time, hindi ito dumaan sa local development council, hindi ito dumaan sa provincial development council, at hindi din dumaan sa regional development council,” he said. 

(These projects that the committee is studying and assessing, most of them didn’t go through the local development council, provincial development council, and regional development council.) —VAL, GMA Integrated News