Flagged in 2019, firm still bagging big projects

When President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. released the list of 15 contractors that cornered almost P100 billion worth of national flood-control projects, one name stood out—EGB Construction Corporation.

Registered in Ilagan City, Isabela, EGB has been handling flood-control and river-protection works in Regions I and II. Public records show the company has scored at least two major projects in the past year alone, with others still being verified through official DPWH contract files.

But here’s the thing — EGB’s track record isn’t spotless.

Back in March 2019, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Ilocos Norte passed a resolution recommending that EGB be blacklisted. This stemmed from DPWH findings of defects in a section of the Bongo River revetment project in Sarrat, Ilocos Norte. Then project engineer Robert Rabago said the firm was ordered to “remove and replace” the faulty portion to meet standards.

What happened to that recommendation? Public records don’t show if it was ever acted on.

EGB’s name doesn’t appear in the official blacklisting databases of either the DPWH or the Government Procurement Policy Board.

Fast-forward to today, and EGB continues to land government contracts. Confirmed deals from DPWH’s own database include:

25A00519 (2025) — Flood-control project in Guerrero (Poblacion), Dingras, Ilocos Norte, in joint venture with A.B. Taylan Construction & Development.

24BG0204 (2024) — Cagayan River Flood Control Structure, Package 3, in Barangay Dammao, Gamu, Isabela.

Other contract references, like 25BG0165 and 25BE0017, along with joint ventures involving K84 Construction & Development Corp., are still being verified.

EGB often partners with other builders to pool resources and credentials — a common practice in the industry. But whether their past projects passed all quality checks is hard to say. The DPWH doesn’t consistently release completion reports or performance ratings, and the Commission on Audit’s yearly reports rarely name contractors unless a project becomes controversial.

DAILY TRIBUNE has asked the Ilocos Norte provincial government for copies of the 2019 resolution and related inspection findings. Similar requests have been sent to DPWH for inspection reports and post-project evaluations on EGB’s contracts in Regions I and II.

Until then, questions remain: how does a firm once flagged for blacklisting keep winning massive public works contracts?

The Tribune is reaching out to EGB Construction Corporation and relevant agencies for comment.