The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon ordered the perpetual lifetime blacklisting of Wawao Builders from the agency, including its affiliates.

In an ambush interview with reporters on Thursday morning, September 4, Dizon announced that he would order the lifetime blacklisting, not just for the construction firm, but also its owner and SYMS Construction Trading.

“Finally, I will also order the perpetual lifetime blacklisting of Wawao Builders from DPWH and all their possible affiliates,” he announced.

“Kung mahahanap namin yung mga kumpanya na sila rin ang may-ari [at] kung sino ang may-ari ng Wawao, pati ‘yon papa-ban natin,” he added.

Earlier this week, Wawao Builders owner Mark Allan Arevalo declined to comment on the Bulacan ghost and substandard flood control projects. During the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing, Senator Jinggoy Estrada expressed his dismay over the former’s response, suggesting to cite Arevalo in contempt.

Meanwhile, Dizon also told reporters that he would recommend the summary dismissal of Assistant Regional Director Henry Alcantara.

The latter had previously admitted to showing negligence over the flood control projects he handled in Bulacan. This includes the ₱55 million worth 220-meter ‘ghost project’ in Baliwag, Bulacan, which President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. previously visited.

The DPWH secretary ordered its legal team to file a case against Alcantara before the Office of the Ombudsman.

Dizon, on Wednesday, formally requested the Department of Justice (DOJ) to issue an immigration lookout bulletin order (ILBO) against 26 individuals. This includes government officials and contractors who were allegedly involved in the anomalous flood control projects.

This came after Dizon ordered the suspension of all ongoing local and DPWH project bidding.