COA finds P344-M Bulacan flood control projects as ghost, mismatched

The Commission on Audit (COA) on Wednesday found P344 million worth of flood control projects in Bulacan to be either non-existent or constructed at mismatched sites.

In its fraud audit report submitted to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), state auditors said the four flood control projects implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Bulacan First District Engineering Office (DEO) were marred by fraud, falsification, and lack of accountability.

The projects include:

• Riverbank protection structure at Barangay San Roque (Purok 2), Baliuag, Bulacan by SYMS Construction Trading — P74 million
• Riverbank protection structure at Barangay San Roque, Baliuag, Bulacan, spanning 229.20 linear meters by M3 Konstract Corporation — P96.5 million
• Riverbank protection structure at Balagtas River, Barangay Santol, Balagtas, Bulacan, spanning 228.80 linear meters by Elite General Contractor & Development Corporation — P96.5 million
• Riverbank protection structure at Barangay Caingin, Malolos City, Bulacan, spanning 203.20 linear meters by Wawao Builders — P77.2 million

“COA's inspection of these four projects revealed systemic irregularities by the DPWH-Bulacan 1st DEO and contractors,” the COA said.

“DPWH-Bulacan 1st DEO representatives directed COA to sites different from the approved project locations. In some instances, no explanation or written justification for the change was provided,” it added.

State auditors also noted that several approved locations already had existing structures that could not be attributed to the new projects.

“One case involved an existing riverbank structure evident just 22 days after the project was awarded, and another site contained an existing structure with defects and cracks,” the COA said.

“In one case, a project tagged as 100% complete had no flood control structure visible at the pinpointed location,” it added.

COA auditors said the DPWH-Bulacan 1st DEO failed to provide critical supporting documents necessary to validate the projects. Specifically, the office did not submit key documents for the SYMS Construction Trading project.

“The DPWH-Bulacan 1st DEO had previously been issued a notice of disallowance by the COA Audit Team for non-submission of paid disbursement vouchers and corresponding supporting documents related to the projects,” COA said.

According to COA, the P74 million project by SYMS Construction Trading in Baliuag was non-existent, while the P96.5 million project by M3 Konstract Corporation already showed multiple defects and cracks.

The Elite General Contractor & Development Corporation’s P96.5 million project in Balagtas was found split into two sections, contrary to the approved plan requiring a single continuous structure.

Meanwhile, the P77 million Malolos project by Wawao Builders spanned only 55 meters at the approved location--far shorter than the approved 148.8 meters.

When COA inspectors were directed to another location by the DPWH, they found no flood control structure, despite the project being marked as 100% complete.

“The individuals involved may face charges for graft and corruption under the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, as well as for malversation and falsification of documents under the Revised Penal Code. Violations of COA Circular No. 2009-001 are also noted,” the COA said.

Those found liable include former DPWH officials, engineers, and representatives of the construction companies:

• Former DPWH Engineer Henry Alcantara
• Former Assistant District Engineer Brice Ericson Hernandez
• Planning and Design Section Chief Ernesto Galang
• Construction Section Chief Jaypee Mendoza
• Engineers John Michael Ramos, Ronalie Pagtalunan, Prince Earl Deocampo, Irene Ontingco, Jefferson Buendia
• Sally Santos (SYMS Construction Trading)
• Louis Raphael DG. Tiqui, M3 Konstract Corporation officers and board members
• Maintenance Section OIC Jaime Hernandez
• Quality Assurance Section Chief Norberto Santos
• Engineers Michelle Cruz, Jasmine Jean Gonzaga
• Maritoni Melgarito, Elite General Contractor & Development Corporation officers and board members
• Engineers Jolo Marl Tayao, Paul Jayson Duya, Lemuel Ephraim SD. Roque
• Mark Allan Arevalo (Wawao Builders)

COA has filed nine reports with the Office of the Ombudsman and nine with the ICI.—MCG, GMA Integrated News