Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel M. Bonoan said that they will fully cooperate on the inquiry regarding the flood control project fraud audit and masterplan concerns implemented in Region 3 and other involved areas.
“We recognize the concern raised by the president that while thousands of projects are reflected as “completed” our citizens continue to experience recurring flooding, this is not a contradiction but a call for deeper accountability,” DPWH Sec. Bonoan said in his opening speech during the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee on Tuesday.
Bonoan further states that that the DPWH has recorded 9,955 ‘completed’ flood control projects between July 2022 and May 2025. At the time, around 3,709 projects amounting to P183 billion were started as early as 2020 and 2021, which he claims to represent “continuity of multi-year efforts”.
In response to the investigation over the department's flood management projects, Bonoan announced that he has instructed the project inspections across Regions 3, 4A, 4B, 5, and 7, as well as the staff reassessment of district engineering offices.
“I have directed the bureau of quality and safety and the internal audit service to deploy inspection teams in regions 3, 4a, 4b, 5, and 7 validating and ensuring compliance. Personal reassignments and replacements in highly suspicious district engineering offices to safeguard the integrity of project implementation,” Bonoan stated during his opening speech.
