BAGUIO CITY — While top officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) are being grilled by Congress and the Senate as the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) probes ghost and overpriced projects, some employees in the Cordillera region remain unpaid for two months.

Several Contract of Service (COS) employees and road maintenance crew members of DPWH Cordillera have yet to receive their salaries for September and October 2025.

A DPWH Benguet 2nd District COS employee, who requested anonymity, told the media through a text message that they had not received their September pay, nor the expected mid-October salary. The delay has caused distress among the workers, who said they are struggling to afford food, daily necessities, and school allowances for their children.

Similarly, a road maintenance crew member from the same agency reported not receiving their 15 October 2025 wages and expressed concern they may not be paid by the end of the month.

Another employee from the agency revealed that some DPWH offices are experiencing funding issues, which have led to delayed payments for many personnel. However, the source could not confirm if COS employees and road maintenance crew members were directly affected by the funding problem.