CoA flags P330-M Bulacan infra works

The Commission on Audit (CoA) has filed four new fraud audit reports involving more than P330 million in flood control projects in Bulacan that were supposed to protect communities.

The audit body said Thursday it has sent the Fraud Audit Reports to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) for possible criminal, civil, and administrative action, including referral to the Office of the Ombudsman. 

The cases involve flood control projects implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office and awarded to Wawao Builders, with a total cost of P330.5 million.

Based on technical inspections, satellite imagery, and document reviews, CoA said several flood mitigation and riverbank protection structures reported as completed were not found at the approved sites. In some cases, DPWH representatives led inspectors to entirely different locations.

“These reports solidify our mandate to hold negligent public officials and private contractors accountable for compromised infrastructure spending,” CoA chairperson Gamaliel A. Cordoba said. 

“Our audit’s core objective is to ensure the integrity of every peso, guaranteeing its allocation to resilient, operational infrastructure that truly protects vulnerable communities from the devastating impact of flooding,” he added.

The cases cover four flood control projects in Malolos City, Guiguinto, and Calumpit, Bulacan, including riverbank protection and flood mitigation works that CoA said either did not exist at the approved sites or were built in different locations, some with noted defects and missing acceptance documents.

CoA said those involved could face charges of graft and corruption under the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, as well as malversation of public funds and falsification of documents under the Revised Penal Code.