Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon ordered regional officials and district engineers in Bicol to fast-track the termination of all contracts won by companies linked to former Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co and contractor couple Sarah and Curlee Discaya.

Presently, Co and the Discayas are facing corruption complaints in relation to alleged ghost and substandard flood control projects across the country.

The situation in the Bicol Region, Dizon said, is particularly concerning because many projects were awarded to firms linked to Co, such as Sunwest Inc. and Hi-Tone Construction.

Several of these projects have also been flagged for either being delayed or possibly defective.

“We know that Sunwest and Hi-Tone can no longer bid for contracts because of the pending cases. Their accounts are frozen. These contracts must be terminated," said Dizon.

The DPWH chief added that the sooner these contracts are terminated, the sooner the DPWH can bid them out to new firms that will finish or fix the projects.

“This is going to be a boring year because thousands of contracts are involved, therefore, we have to bid it out and find a new contractor and finish it,” he said.

Among the stalled projects Dizon inspected was the multimillion-peso Malabog Flyover in Daraga, Albay, which has been under construction since 2021 despite being less than a kilometer long.

The project is meant to be an alternate route for motorists leaving the Bicol International Airport and to decongest traffic along the Maharlika Highway.

Records stated that the first two phases of the project were bagged by Hi-Tone Construction, while the third phase was awarded to Discaya-owned Alpha & Omega General Contractor and Development Corp.

“If they really wanted this completed, this should not have bene split into phases. Obviously, the project has been abandoned," said Dizon.

He assured the public that the involved contractors will be held accountable.

“Lahat naman yan may kaakibat na accountability.

He said all of it come with accountability; these will come with criminal complaints, but at the same time, they should not lose sight that this has to be completed since it has already been five years.

Dizon said they aim to finally complete the flyover by the middle of 2027.