P96.5 million Davao Occidental flood control project nearly completed, not ‘ghost’

The P96.5 million flood control project in Culaman, Jose Abad Santos, previously linked to graft allegations, is nearing completion, according to documents and images obtained from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

The project, which involves the construction of a concrete revetment and was implemented by the DPWH Davao Occidental District Engineering Office (Project ID 22LE0029), was awarded in 2022 to St. Timothy Construction Corporation, owned by contractor Cezarah “Sarah” Discaya. Photos and videos from the DPWH District Office indicate that portions of the project are completed, with remaining sections ongoing.

Discaya, along with District Engineer Rodrigo C. Larete, Assistant District Engineer Michael P. Awa, several section chiefs, project engineers, and inspectors, as well as Ma. Roma Angelin Rimando of St. Timothy Construction Corporation, were charged in relation to allegations that they conspired to release funds for a revetment project that was never constructed. The charges cited violations of Section 3(e) of Republic Act No. 3019, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and Articles 217, 171, and 172 of the Revised Penal Code on malversation of public funds through falsification of public documents.

Eight DPWH officials involved have been preventively suspended for six months while administrative cases are ongoing. The suspension was issued by DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon following an inspection of the site.

A DPWH source said the accused were “wrongly charged with a non-bailable offense as the project is not a ghost project, but a completed one,” adding that the allegations appear to have been influenced by “optics” concerns. The document in full will be submitted to the court for review.