DPWH chief confirms suspected 'ghost' flood control projects in Bulacan

Manila Bulletin

Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan on Tuesday, August 19, expressed his belief that some flood control projects in Bulacan may be “ghost projects.” (Video courtesy of Senate of the Philippines)  READ: https://mb.com.ph/2025/08/19/dpwh-chief-confirms-suspected-ghost-flood-control-projects-in-bulacan  https://mb.com.ph/2025/08/19/dpwh-chief-confirms-suspected-ghost-flood-control-projects-in-bulacan  Subscribe to the Manila Bulletin Online channel! - https://www.youtube.com/TheManilaBulletin  Visit our website at http://mb.com.ph Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/manilabulletin Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/manila_bulletin Instagram: https://instagram.com/manilabulletin Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com @manilabulletin  #ManilaBulletinOnline #ManilaBulletin #LatestNews

Transcript

00:00My office received reports that there are ghost projects in the municipalities of Kalumpit, Malolos, and Hagonoy in the province of Bulacan.

00:09Can you confirm this?

00:10Yes, Your Honor.

00:12That's true.

00:13Well, this is the information that we have received, Your Honor.

00:16And the contractor allegedly, Wawaw Builders, correct?

00:24That's correct, Your Honor.

00:25And SYMS Construction.

00:28Am I correct?

00:31I don't recall that name, Your Honor.

00:33Who is the owner of Wawaw Builders?

00:36Is he here?

00:39Is he present here?

00:49Senator Jingoy was invited, but I will not reply as of now.

00:54May I know who is the legitimate owner of this construction company?

01:02Mark?

01:03Mark Alan Arevalo.

01:05Mark Alan Arevalo.

01:06All right.

01:08I think the committee will issue a Sofina.

01:11So, sa aking palagay, ito mga ghost projects na nabulgar na ngayon, siguro inaayos na nila.

01:20Tama?

01:23Para hindi maalata na ghost.

01:24And I don't think that they will have that capability anymore, Your Honor, because I think if this were ghost projects in the first place, you know,

01:35they would not have delivered the time actually to do anything at this point in time.

01:41The records will show that if this is recorded, if there is no project at all that was implemented, and payment has been made, then it's on.

01:52Tapos na. Nasunog na yung pera natin.

01:54That's actually...

01:55All right.

01:56Magkano ang inaward dito sa mga sa Wawaw?

02:00Wawaw Builders?

02:01I don't have the figure right now, Mr. Chair, but I think it's predominantly in...

02:06I don't know. Mayroong mga figures dyan.

02:08Huwag niyo ako lulukohin dito.

02:11Labas niyo ako magkano yung inaward nito sa Wawaw.

02:14Builders.

02:16Mga ghost projects.

02:19We'll wait for it.

02:29Mr. Chair,

02:31well, I've just been given the

02:33the tabulation.

02:35Wawaw Builders.

02:42Wawaw Builders.

02:47The number of projects,

02:51the total projects,

02:53total cost of the projects that have been implemented

02:55is

02:57nine billion

03:00nine million

03:06or nine billion?

03:07Nine billion

03:09all over the country, Mr. Chair.

03:11But let me just point out,

03:13in Bulacan,

03:13in Bulacan alone,

03:16Wawaw Builders

03:17had 85

03:18projects

03:21amounting to

03:225,971,800,000.

03:25In Bulacan alone,

03:26what about the three minutes politics

03:28that I've mentioned?

03:29Kalumpit,

03:30Haganoy,

03:31and

03:31Malolos.

03:40This is for

03:41Bulacan,

03:42Bulacan 1st Engineering District

03:44Office,

03:44Your Honor.

03:45Ito bang,

03:46I'm not familiar,

03:47ito bang Kalumpit,

03:48Malolos,

03:48Haganoy Falls,

03:49under the 1st

03:50District?

03:50Yes, Your Honor.

03:52Yes.

03:53Alright.

03:53So,

03:54magkano?

03:54Yung

03:55sa Wawaw?

03:555,971,811,600,000.

04:02In Bulacan alone?

04:03In

04:04Bulacan 1st Engineering District,

04:07Your Honor.

04:09So,

04:09yung 5 billion

04:10na inaward

04:11sa Wawaw Builders

04:12para sa

04:13province,

04:14Bulacan,

04:16are all

04:16ghost projects?

04:17Correct?

04:20Secretary,

04:21for the record,

04:22the total is

04:239 billion.

04:24That is

04:24nationwide?

04:25Nationwide,

04:26Nationwide,

04:27Your Honor.

04:28Pero lahat

04:28yung ghost projects?

04:30Your Honor?

04:31Ghost projects lahat?

04:32No po.

04:33So,

04:33ang ghost project lang

04:34na sinasabi mo,

04:35siya Bulacan lang.

04:36There are,

04:37there are,

04:38seems to be,

04:38there seems to be

04:39some ghost projects

04:40actually as reported,

04:41Your Honor.

04:42Are you investigating

04:42this right now?

04:43Yes,

04:43Your Honor,

04:44I'm investigating it.

04:45What is the status

04:46of your investigation?

04:47They will be coming up

04:48with their,

04:49they will be coming up

04:52with their

04:53financial and

04:55physical report

04:57in one week's time,

04:59Your Honor,

04:59to my office.

05:02Mr. Chairman,

05:04with the permission

05:05of Senator

05:05Jingo Estrada,

05:07it's connected

05:08to his question.

05:09Yes,

05:09Senator Soto,

05:11please,

05:11you are an executive,

05:12How did Wawa Builders,

05:13how did Wawa Builders

05:15get that

05:165.9 billion

05:18in those three

05:19municipalities

05:20in Bulacan?

05:22How did they get that?

05:23Who in,

05:24who inserted that

05:25into the budget

05:26of DPWH?

05:27Let me just

05:28clarify a little bit,

05:29Mr. Chairman.

05:30The amount

05:31that I have mentioned

05:32is actually

05:33for four years

05:35up to

05:36fiscal year

05:382025.

05:39It started

05:40in 2022,

05:422023,

05:432024,

05:43and 2025,

05:45Your Honor.

05:45Let's clear that,

05:46Mr. Secretary,

05:48the 9 point

05:48something billion

05:49is for four years?

05:505.9

05:51for Wawa,

05:52Your Honor.

05:54No, no,

05:54the total

05:55for four years

05:56is nine

05:56something billion?

05:57Yes,

05:57Your Honor.

05:58And the five

05:59something billion

06:00ghost project

06:01is in Bulacan alone?

06:03Not totally

06:04ghost project,

06:05Your Honor.

06:05I'm not saying

06:06it's not totally

06:07ghost project,

06:08but the total

06:09amount of project

06:10that 85,

06:1285,

06:1385 projects

06:14that he has

06:15implemented

06:15during the

06:17four-year period

06:18amounts to

06:185 billion

06:19971 million,

06:21Your Honor.

06:21So,

06:25Senator Jingo,

06:26your feelings

06:26are ready?

06:27Are you going

06:28to interject,

06:28ma'am?

06:29You want to interject?

06:31Okay.

06:35Tapos ka na,

06:36Senator Tito.

06:38No,

06:38I did not get

06:39an answer,

06:39Mr. President,

06:40Mr. Chairman,

06:412025 na lang.

06:452025,

06:46how much

06:47Wawa Builders

06:48para mas

06:50madali nyo

06:50ma-identify.

06:512025,

06:52Your Honor,

06:53he has

06:54five projects

06:55in that

06:56engineering district

06:58amounting to

06:59435,000,710,000,913,000.

07:07So,

07:08400 plus

07:09million

07:10for that

07:10particular

07:11area

07:11na

07:12being

07:13suspected

07:14as

07:14ghost

07:15project?

07:16Well,

07:16some of

07:17them,

07:17Your Honor.

07:17Some of

07:17them,

07:18okay.

07:19How did

07:19they get

07:20that

07:20through

07:23bidding?

07:24They

07:24participated

07:25in the

07:25bidding,

07:26Your Honor.

07:26How did

07:26that budget

07:27get into

07:29your budget,

07:30the DPWH?

07:31Was there

07:32a senator

07:32or a

07:33congressman

07:34who inserted

07:34that for

07:36that particular

07:37area?

07:37Well,

07:38we'll just

07:39have to

07:39find out,

07:40Your Honor,

07:40because there

07:41are many

07:42sources in

07:422025.

07:46Let me

07:46just point

07:47out that

07:48some of

07:48the projects

07:49were included

07:50in the

07:50national

07:50expenditure

07:51program

07:52that

07:53has been

07:55submitted

07:55to

07:56Congress.

07:57And,

07:57of course,

07:57there are

07:58projects

07:58that were

07:59actually

07:59added on

08:00in the

08:00general

08:01appropriation

08:01supply.

08:03Anyway,

08:04thank you.

08:05Mr. Chairman,

08:06thank you.

08:06I did not

08:07get the

08:07answer.

08:08Senator

08:09Estrada,

08:09thank you

08:10very much.

08:11With the

08:12permission of

08:12Senator

08:13Estrada,

08:14related

08:14to the

08:15question,

08:16Mr. Chair,

08:20if

08:20gano'n

08:21na

08:21inamin

08:22ng

08:23DPWH

08:23na

08:25merong

08:25ghost

08:25projects

08:26dyan

08:27sa

08:27flood

08:29control,

08:31pwede

08:31malaman

08:31from

08:32COA,

08:33paano

08:34ito

08:34nakalusot?

08:36Anong

08:37papel

08:37ng

08:37COA

08:37dito

08:38sa

08:38ghost

08:39projects

08:40na ito?

08:40Bakit

08:40hindi

08:40ito

08:41nyo

08:41nakita?

08:42Pwede

08:43malaman,

08:43Mr.

08:43Chair?

08:45Good

08:45morning,

08:46Mr.

08:47Chair,

08:47and

08:47your

08:48honor.

08:49Based

08:49po

08:49sa

08:49aming

08:50mga

08:50reports

08:51na

08:51nakuha

08:51po

08:51from

08:52our

08:52regional

08:53and

08:53district

08:54engineering

08:54offices,

08:55ongoing

08:56pa lang

08:56po

08:57yung

08:57kanilang

08:57pagkulate

08:58ng

08:58mga

08:58observations,

08:59sir.

09:00Actually,

09:01sir,

09:01may

09:01mga

09:02observations

09:02naman

09:03po,

09:03pero

09:03hindi

09:03ko

09:04mako

09:05conclude

09:05na

09:06pertaining

09:06po

09:06ito

09:07sa

09:07mga

09:07ghost

09:08projects.

09:09Marami

09:09naman

09:09po

09:09observation

09:10ng

09:11mga

09:11auditors

09:11natin,

09:12sir,

09:12kasi

09:13marami

09:13din

09:13pong

09:14types

09:14of

09:14audit

09:14ang

09:15kinakandak

09:15na

09:15mga

09:15auditors

09:17natin

09:17regularly,

09:18sir.

09:18May

09:18compliance?

09:19Yes,

09:19I mean,

09:20for this

09:20particular

09:21projects

09:21na

09:22kinlaim,

09:23inamin,

09:24ng

09:24DPWH,

09:25na talagang

09:26ghost

09:26projects

09:27ito,

09:28pwede

09:28niyo

09:28tutukan

09:29ito,

09:29and can

09:29we

09:29have

09:30results

09:30in the

09:31next

09:31hearing

09:32na

09:32ikakandak

09:32natin?

09:33Opo,

09:33sir.

09:33Actually,

09:34sir,

09:34meron na po

09:35tayong

09:35office

09:36order

09:36from

09:37our

09:37chairman,

09:38particularly

09:39para sa

09:39fraud audit

09:40ng

09:41Bulacan,

09:41sir.

09:42Thank you

09:42for that.

09:43Mr.

09:43Chairman.

09:44I hope

09:44next hearing.

09:46Thank you,

09:47Mr.

09:47Chairman.

09:47Mr.

09:48Chairman,

09:48related to

09:48kay

09:50Senator

09:52Jingo,

09:52in order

09:52for

09:53arrival,

09:53just one

09:53question,

09:54Mr.

09:54Chairman.

09:55All right.

09:56I'll give

09:56it,

09:56Mr.

09:56Chairman.

09:59Isang

09:59tanong

09:59lam.

10:00Mr.

10:03Chair.

10:04Two.

10:05Two.

10:06Kasi

10:06nabanggit

10:07nga

10:08dito

10:08ganina

10:08na may

10:09mga

10:09ghost

10:10projects,

10:11na may

10:11mga

10:12projects

10:13na

10:13nabigay

10:14sa mga

10:14contractor

10:15na

10:15kaduda-duda

10:16for the

10:17longest

10:17time.

10:18Ang

10:18tanong

10:18ko

10:19sa

10:19DPWH,

10:21kasi

10:22sa

10:22ngayon,

10:23nag-research

10:24kami,

10:26so

10:26103

10:26na

10:27blacklisted

10:28na

10:28mga

10:29contractors.

10:30Isa

10:30lang

10:30dito

10:31ang

10:31na

10:31blacklist

10:32ng

10:32DPWH

10:33sa

10:33flood

10:33control.

10:34Isa

10:34lang.

10:36Bakit

10:36isa

10:36lang?

10:37Kung

10:37inaami

10:38naman

10:38ng

10:38DPWH,

10:39pinag-usapan

10:40natin

10:40dito

10:40for the

10:41longest

10:41time,

10:42marami

10:42mga

10:42anomalya

10:43katiyualayan

10:43sa

10:44flood

10:44control

10:44at

10:44mga

10:45contractor

10:46na

10:46gumagawa

10:47ng

10:47gross

10:47projects,

10:48bakit

10:48isa

10:49lang

10:49ang

10:49na

10:49flood

10:50down

10:50on

10:51a

10:51blacklist?

10:55Well,

10:56Your

10:57Honor,

10:57I

10:58think

10:58unfortunately

10:59these are

11:02now being

11:03validated in

11:04the field.

11:05These are

11:05now being

11:06validated in

11:07the field.

11:07So,

11:08pagka

11:10wala

11:10naman pong

11:11derogatory

11:13information

11:15that

11:16will come

11:16out in

11:17the

11:17bidding

11:17process

11:18for

11:18these

11:18contractors,

11:19they

11:19could be

11:20allowed

11:20to

11:20participate.

11:23Wala

11:24naman

11:24pa

11:24kaming

11:24basis

11:25for

11:26for

11:26people.

11:26I

11:26will

11:26give

11:27a

11:27reason

11:27why

11:27it

11:28is

11:28a

11:28blacklist

11:29because

11:30many

11:30contractors

11:32are

11:33contractors

11:33and

11:34they

11:35are

11:35doing

11:36projects

11:37and

11:37block

11:37of

11:38ghost

11:38projects.

11:39So,

11:39they

11:39don't block

11:39themselves.

11:40Thank you, Your Honor.

11:41Mr. Chairman.

11:43Mr. Chair.

11:45Mr. Chair.

11:45Mr. Secretary.

11:47Mr. Secretary.

11:49Do you have 5.7 billion?

11:51Most of these are ghost projects, as you have admitted already.

11:55I cannot say that most of it at this point in time, Your Honor.

12:00But I think in this 5.9 billion pesos that is there in the Wawa Builders,

12:10there could be some.

12:13Yes, Your Honor.

12:16So some of these projects are ghost projects.

12:18Could be, Your Honor.

12:20So that's convenient already.

12:22Some of these projects in Bulacan are ghost projects.

12:26Mr. Chairman.

12:27What happens with the performance band?

12:29What do you do with the performance band?

12:31Each project has a performance band.

12:36Kama po?

12:37Yes, Your Honor.

12:38Are you supposed to confiscate the performance band?

12:42Well, if the project has been slapsed, actually, for its warranty, Your Honor.

12:50And I submitted some of these projects are ghost projects.

12:53Yes, Your Honor.

12:54So you have to run after the performance band.

12:56Your insurance company, kailangan habulin natin.

13:01Yes, Your Honor.

13:01Yes.

13:02What will you do?

13:04Well, as soon as we are able to file all the necessary...

13:09How much does it take, the insurance company, as I say, sa experience ninyo?

13:16These are ghost projects?

13:19As soon as we are able to finally come up with the documentation, Your Honor, and then I think...

13:24Okay, for the record, kapag nakita natin na ghost projects, you will run after the performance bands posted by this contractor.

13:35Yes, Your Honor.

13:35And to the question of Senator Bato, Madam Coa, ano nga, ano bang ginawa ninyo?

13:42Most of these projects have been established, admitted as ghost projects.

13:46Bakit hindi kayo makapagsalita, makapag-report?

13:50Ghost pala.

13:51Bakit lumusot sa inyo?

13:53Sir, sa ngayon po, sir, since we are still consolidating and gathering data from our regional and district...

14:01Alam nyo yung problema ninyo? You have a very standard way of answering us.

14:05Yes, sir.

14:05You are still waiting for your regional offices.

14:09Alam nyo yung problema ninyo, Madam Coa?

14:11Kasi puro kayo post-audit.

14:14Mag-u-audit kayo pag tapos na yung project.

14:16Like what happened in Misamis Occidental.

14:20I ask your regional...

14:23Anong tawag nyo ron?

14:25Director, po.

14:26Regional Director ng Coa.

14:28I ask him,

14:29There is a very irregular project being constructed in Misamis Occidental in Barangay, Lama'an.

14:38This is a project shepherded by the former...

14:47Ano yan?

14:48He was a deputy speaker in the House of Representatives.

14:53Kapareho was a deputy speaker.

14:54He was able to get a 50 million project from DPWH.

15:03Tinanong ko yung DPWH doon in Region 10.

15:06How come DPWH now is funding housing projects?

15:11Kailan nangyari ito?

15:12And then when I asked him,

15:17Yung baka kong pagtatayuan ng lupa ng housing project na yan,

15:20costing 50 million pesos.

15:23By the way, Mr. Secretary,

15:26Yung contractor doon,

15:28ay itong Alpha and Omega General Contractor and Development Corporation.

15:32One of the 15 contractors identified by the President.

15:35Sabi ko, tinanong ko sa kanya,

15:39Alam mo ba na yung pagtatayuan ng housing project na ito,

15:44ay hindi pa sa pangalan ng city?

15:47I don't know, sir.

15:50Bakit hindi mo alam?

15:52Eh kasi po, mag-u-audit lang po kami pagkatapos ng project.

15:56Saka naman nakakakita ito.

15:58Ibig po, sinasabi ko na nga sa iyo ngayon eh.

16:01The city of Laman,

16:02the local government's LG unit at that time,

16:08succeeded in getting a writ of possession.

16:13On the basis of the writ of possession,

16:15itatayo nila yung housing project.

16:17I told them,

16:18is the writ of possession transformed itself as a title for the city?

16:23Hindi ko po alam.

16:24Sabi ng inyong ko, ah.

16:25Eh, pag natabos ang project na ito,

16:30kanino ka ako ang project na ito?

16:33Hindi ko po alam.

16:36Ito po yung nangyayari ngayon eh.

16:40Ito na naman pong Alpha and Omega General Contractors and Development.

16:45Ginamit lang po yung lisensa niya,

16:48Mr. Secretary.

16:49Alam mo niyo kung sino yung gumawa doon?

16:51Yung mismong gobernador ngayon,

16:54na mayroong isang construction company.

16:56I hope he is listening.

16:59At sasabihin ko sa kanya ngayon,

17:01hindi pa ako tapos sa iyo.

17:02Mr. Chairman.

17:03Heo.

17:03Isang,

17:04If you are therapeutic to the city in the world,

17:04I hope your body has skilled people who's being alimentated.

17:06Isang,

17:07isang,

17:08isang.

17:09Mag близan.

17:09I'm car所,

17:09man suggestions at Sherek.

17:11Isang aswa.

17:12I'm a backpack at isang.

17:12I'm a backpacker.

17:13thermal light,

17:13Nima.

17:14lnn,

17:14iroo.

17:15Ito mo nor isang.

17:16For example,

17:16ima app.

17:16Rapina san However,

17:18so isang.

17:19nasa2 ooh.

17:19To the movie of bowls,

17:20I found out.

17:21I'm a будто Boy,

17:21in this book from Latina,

17:22I'm a bigger person

17:23I questions.

17:24The pain,

17:25it positioned surtout in my bodyly.

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