CoA flags P325M in missing Bulacan flood structures

THE Commission on Audit (CoA) has submitted four more fraud audit reports to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), uncovering more than P325 million in Bulacan flood control projects where structures were missing or built outside approved locations.

In a statement dated Jan. 16 and released on Tuesday, the state auditor cited “systemic misuse of public funds” within the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Bulacan 1^st District Engineering Office.

The findings pointed to “ghost projects,” unauthorized site relocations and payments for infrastructure that predated contracts.

CoA said DPWH representatives directed inspectors to locations different from approved plans “without any approved revised plans or written authority to justify the relocation,” violating procurement and contract rules.

Auditors used drone surveillance and historical satellite imagery to expose irregularities in contracts awarded to Wawao Builders and Darcy and Anna Builders & Trading across four municipalities from July 2022 to May 2025.

In Malolos City, a P74.1-million riverbank protection project in the village of Babatnin was flagged after satellite data showed the structure existed nearly a year before the contract.

In Hagonoy, a P77.2-million project was declared 100% complete, though the structure was found roughly 694 meters from the approved site. In Guiguinto, a P96.5-million project showed discrepancies in length and cross-sections, which CoA said “seriously undermine the credibility of reported accomplishments and payments made.”

The audits follow an August 2025 directive from CoA Chairman Gamaliel A. Cordoba to address public concerns over ghost projects and corruption in critical infrastructure.

A total of 18 people — including district engineers, project engineers, section chiefs and representatives from the two construction firms — were named as potentially liable and could face graft, malversation and falsification charges.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. has yet to decide the future of the ICI, the fact-finding body reviewing the projects, according to Malacañang.

“For now, and as the President has also said, it still depends on the work done, and it needs to be seen how far the ICI has gone in their tasks,” Palace Press Officer Clarissa A. Castro told a news briefing.

The ICI, established through Executive Order No. 94 in September, has only its chairman, Andres B. Reyes, Jr., remaining after two commissioners resigned last year, citing completed work.

Ms. Castro said if the body were dissolved, the Office of the Ombudsman and Department of Justice would continue the investigation.

President Marcos said last week that the commission is “coming toward the end” of its run. He noted that new appointments would depend on whether further work is needed.

The Bulacan flood control scandal, which has drawn public outrage, involves billions of pesos in alleged kickbacks by government officials and contractors.

The climate-vulnerable country has long struggled to protect communities from floods despite repeated infrastructure spending.

Mr. Marcos first flagged the collusion in his July 2025 State of the Nation address and established the ICI to investigate and eventually refer cases to the courts. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana