COA flags P325M Bulacan flood projects

The Commission on Audit (COA) has uncovered more anomalies in Bulacan’s first district flood control projects, implicating many of the same officials and contractors already under investigation, as new fraud findings emerge in projects worth over P325 million—intensifying the fallout from the sprawling scandal.

In a report released on Tuesday, the audit body said that four Fraud Audit Reports were filed with the Independent Commission for Infrastructure and raised concerns about the misuse of public funds.

The projects were implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) – Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office and awarded to Wawao Builders and Darcy and Anna Builders & Trading.

COA said its investigation uncovered repeated signs of systemic misuse of public funds, stressing that the filings reflect its commitment to transparency and accountability so money meant to protect vulnerable communities from flooding is not diverted through corruption. 

Through physical inspections, drone surveillance, geotagged photos, and historical satellite imagery, COA found that no flood control or riverbank protection structures existed at approved project sites, even though official records declared them completed or substantially accomplished. 

COA also found that some structures already existed before contract effectivity, raising the possibility that public funds were used to pay for works that were not newly built, and noted missing documents that undermined the credibility of reported accomplishments and payments.

One flagged project involved Wawao Builders’ P96.5-million riverbank protection project in Barangay Santa Cruz, Guiguinto, where COA found the structure was not built at the approved site and appeared to have been relocated without authority. 

COA also cited discrepancies between approved and as-built plans, including reduced project length and altered cross-sections, casting doubt on the validity of the reported accomplishments.

Those identified as liable were Engineer Henry C. Alcantara, Engineer Brice Ericson D. Hernandez, Planning & Design Section Chief Ernesto Galang, Maintenance Section Chief Lorenzo A. Pagtalunan, Maintenance Section OIC Jaime R. Hernandez, Engineer Merg Jaron C. Laus, Engineer John Michael E. Ramos, Engineer Ericka Justine P. Chico, Engineer Isiah Lor V. Galang, and Mark Allan V. Arevalo of Wawao Builders.

Another Wawao Builders project worth P77.2 million in Barangay Iba-Ibayo, Hagonoy was declared 100 percent complete, but COA found no structure at the designated site. 

The structure pointed out by DPWH representatives was about 694 meters away and had no approved revised plans or authority for relocation, leading COA to deem any payments under the contract potentially invalid. 

Those identified as liable were Alcantara, Hernandez, Galang, Construction Section Chief Jaypee D. Mendoza, Engineer Lemuel Ephraim SD. Roque, Engineer Sheena Bernadette B. Morales, Engineer Jolo Mari V. Tayao, Engineer Paul Jayson F. Duya, and Arevalo of Wawao Builders.

In Calumpit, a P77.2-million Wawao Builders project in Barangay San Jose showed multiple inconsistencies in project location and length, including a structure with a different contract ID and measurements that did not match the approved bid and as-built plans. 

COA said the structure was outside the approved site and the declared 100 percent completion was questionable, potentially invalidating any related payments.

Those identified as liable were Alcantara, Hernandez, Galang, Duya, Tayao, Mendoza, Roque, Engineer Raymond T. Ramos, and Arevalo of Wawao Builders.

A fourth project, the P74.1-million riverbank protection project of Darcy and Anna Builders & Trading in Barangay Babatnin, Malolos City, was also flagged after COA confirmed that no structure was built at the approved site. 

The structure identified by DPWH representatives predated the contract by nearly a year, based on satellite imagery, while progress photos submitted by the contractor had embedded coordinates inconsistent with the approved project location, raising concerns of possible misrepresentation.

Those identified as liable were Alcantara, Hernandez, Mendoza, Galang, Tayao, Roque, Morales, and Darcy Kimel D. Respecio of Darcy and Anna Builders & Trading.

“The individuals involved may face charges for graft and corruption under the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, as well as for malversation and falsification of documents under the Revised Penal Code. Violations of COA Circular No. 2009-001 are also noted,” the COA said.