Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Leviste said CWS Party-list Rep. Edwin Gardiola ranks among the biggest proponents of infrastructure projects linked to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

During DZRH’s Dos Por Dos interview, Leviste said Gardiola placed “number two,” next to Zaldy Co, based on information from Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) Commissioner Rogelio Singson.

“Actually, ang pinangalanan ko na contractor na congressman din ay hindi lang isa sa mga kontratista na may mga DPWH contracts. Actually, siya ang pinakamalaking buyer daw ng mga proyekto sa DPWH,” Leviste said.

“Mas malaki pa daw kay Discaya. At nagkataon lang na sa iba-ibang mga pangalan ang mga kontrata na napupunta sa kanya.”

Leviste said Gardiola has secured over ₱100 billion in DPWH contracts from 2001 to 2025, with most of these obtained in the past three years.

For 2025 alone, he estimated that Gardiola could account for around ₱30 billion worth of projects, including allocations from the National Expenditure Program and congressional insertions.

According to Leviste, Gardiola would offer funding for road projects in different districts on the condition that he selects the contractor.

In Batangas’ 1st District, Leviste cited ₱794 million in road projects under Gardiola’s influence, including ₱280 million awarded to a construction firm linked to Gardiola’s family and ₱514 million to ReadyCon Trading.

Leviste also noted that local engineers had preferred concrete for a Tuy, Batangas project due to flooding concerns, but the DPWH pushed for asphalt, allegedly because of higher profit margins.

“At ang focus ng publiko ay flood control pero ang road construction and maintenance ay ang majority ng DPWH budget. Kaya umaabot po ng over 100 billion ang mga kontrata na natitrace natin kay Congressman Edwin Gardiola,” Leviste said, explaining the scale of contracts traced to Gardiola.