DPWH exec, district engineer told to explain questionable flood control project in Davao Occidental

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has ordered one of its regional executives and a district engineer to provide an explanation for an alleged anomalous flood control project in Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental worth P96.5 million. 

In separate show-cause orders dated September 26, DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon ordered Region XI Director Juby Cordon and Davao Occidental district engineer Rodrigo Larete to explain the Culaman Bridge Flood Control Project's unfinished status, even though it was deemed complete and St. Timothy Construction Company had received full payment as early as 2022.

Dizon also said reports from the residents and the barangay chairperson said that the construction had only started two to three weeks prior to the September 25 inspection that he and then-Independent Commission for Infrastructure special adviser and Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong conducted.

Both Cordon and Larete were given five days after receiving the show-cause orders to justify why they should not be held administratively liable for possible violations of laws, regulations, and orders. —VBL, GMA Integrated News