Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon confirmed Friday that there are no “ghost” or non-existent flood control projects in Taguig, putting an end to conflicting claims of Senators Alan Cayetano and Ping Lacson. 

Dizon disclosed the agency’s finding during a budget hearing at the Senate after he was confronted by Cayetano.

Cayetano started by asking for an estimate of the number of conclusively identified ghost flood control projects across the country, as the DPWH continues its parallel investigation into irregularities in government projects. 

“Are there ghost projects in Taguig?” Cayetano later asked. “Based on our investigation, there are none,” Dizon replied, though he noted that the investigation is still ongoing. 

There are currently 107 projects in Taguig—Cayetano’s political turf—“all of which have accomplishments,” according to DPWH Undersecretary Ricardo Bernabe III. 

Lacson has repeatedly linked Cayetano to suspected ghost slope protection and flood mitigation projects along the Taguig River, which is reportedly now subject to the Ombudsman’s investigation. 

The supposed anomalous anti-flood projects are on top of alleged illegal reclamation projects reportedly undertaken by the Taguig local government within the Laguna Lake. 

Lacson has alleged that public funds involved in the alleged anomalous infrastructure projects in Cayetano’s turf totaled P14.4 billion, covering the period from 2020—when Cayetano was still the Speaker of the House of Representatives—to 2025. 

The scheme allegedly involved recycling photos from previously completed contracts to justify billing and collect payments for purportedly new projects. 

The Taguig lawmaker has denied allegations of kickbacks from flood control projects, accusing Lacson of a “demolition job” and political persecution allegedly aimed at intimidating and stopping him from criticizing the purported cover-up of administration lawmakers in the corruption scandal. 

The flood control scam has prompted sweeping reforms in the DPWH, including purging of regional directors and district engineers accused of conniving with lawmakers and contractors through a kickback scheme.

Dizon said that, at present, 61 DPWH officials have been relieved and are facing pending criminal cases. Of roughly 11,000 licensed contractors, 19 face criminal or civil cases or agency referrals, while 11 have been blacklisted from entering into contracts with the government.

Senator Imee Marcos said these figures remain relatively low and do not include “big fish” despite the administration’s promised crackdown. 

“In the Senate, the Ombudsman is zealous in going after senators, yet apparently not so when it comes to flood control [perpetrators]?

Dizon told Marcos that the DPWH’s task is limited to case referral, though he noted that at least 166 flood control cases are subject to the Ombudsman's investigation.

Still, Marcos argued that the P841 million in funds recovered from flood-control perpetrators was “very low” compared to the billions in alleged stolen funds from kickbacks.

The DPWH proposes a P643.95 billion budget for next year, subject to Congress’ approval.

Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian flagged over 7,100 DPWH projects worth a combined P251 billion as potential red flags. This includes 189 projects amounting to P3 billion that appeared to be duplicates.

Dizon replied that the agency has already mandated the submission of complete documentary requirements before they allow projects to be undertaken, adding that the DPWH is enforcing tighter implementation and monitoring following the flood control controversy.

He told senators the department has consolidated flood-mitigation projects under its Flood Management Program, removing identical projects previously lodged under separate programs. 

Under the proposed DPWH budget, P200 billion will go to the National Road Program, while the Flood Management Program will receive  P83.84 billion in local funding and an additional P19 billion for foreign-assisted projects, bringing the total allocation to approximately P103 billion.

The DPWH assured the Senate panel that sweeping reforms are in place to avert the recurrence of corruption. This includes the removal of the Sustainable Infrastructure Projects Alleviating Gaps program, the consolidation of flood management projects under a single budget code, and the abolition of the agency's previous parametric allocation formula.

However, senators still flagged several red flags and questionable budgetary items, such as vague line-item descriptions, unitemized lump-sum allocations, missing/inconsistent station limits, and lack of costing, among others.