Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon and Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong slammed alleged irregularities in several flood control projects in La Union during an inspection morning on Tuesday, September 16, 2025.

In Bauang’s Barangay Calumbaya, Dizon found workers rushing to fix a P180-million dike and riprap project that was supposed to have been completed in March 2025.

“No doubt kailangan talaga ng flood control project dito. So ang ginawa namin we check yung quality ng project at clearly hindi naman ito ghost project kasi may nakikita naman tayo. Pero mukhang napaksubstandad naman nito,” Dizon said.

Inspectors also discovered cracks in parts of the dike, fake pipes stuck into the ground that measured less than a foot instead of the required two meters, and substandard steel and tie wiring. Worse, project officials failed to present any project plans.

“Ang katakot-takot pa na napansin natin dito ay may pattern sila, walang maipakitang plano. Eh ’yun ang basis eh, hindi tayo makakapag-assess kung walang plano. So tuloy-tuloy ang imbestigasyon natin dito kasama ang ICI,” Dizon added.

In Tubao, a P50-million, 500-meter flood control project in Barangay Anduya was flagged for alleged cost-cutting, while in Barangay Rizal, officials found a supposed ghost project where only dug-up soil was left on the site.

Magalong, who serves as special adviser and investigator of the Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI), ordered the suspension of the visited projects pending a full investigation.

“Questionable nga yung ginagamit nilang technology considering na consistent naman na buhos yung iba. Pero dito parang stone masonry. Bakit hindi consistent yung mga ginagamit na equipment? Bakit iba-iba?” he said.

La Union is part of Region 1, which has 851 listed flood control projects worth P39.3 billion, the fourth highest allocation in the country.