MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Audit (COA) announced it has discovered irregularities in flood control projects managed by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) – Bulacan First District Engineering Office.
Instances of project site discrepancies, potential double-counting of accomplishments, and a severe lack of crucial documentation have been detailed in four audit reports COA submitted to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI).
The agency said several DPWH officials and private contractors are implicated in the reports.
The audits — initiated under a directive from COA Chairperson Gamaliel Cordoba last August 12 — focused on all DPWH flood control projects in Bulacan from July 1, 2022, to May 30, 2025.
COA listed down the following key findings:
SYMS Construction Trading – Construction of Flood Control Structure along Angat River, Pulilan, Bulacan (P92,880,179.91)
During a COA inspection on September 16, DPWH-Bulacan 1st DEO representatives pointed to a project site that was different from the approved location. No explanation was provided for this change. Furthermore, COA discovered that a slope-protection structure already existed at the approved location prior to the contract's effectivity on February 25, raising concerns about potential double-counted accomplishments. The DPWH-Bulacan 1st DEO also failed to submit a substantial number of critical supporting documents.
Those identified as potentially liable include District Engineer Henry Alcantara, Assistant District Engineer Brice Ericson Hernandez, Planning and Design Section Chief Ernesto Galang, Engineer III John Michael E. Ramos, Project Engineer Lemuel Ephraim SD. Roque, Engineer II Jolo Mari Tayao, and Sally Santos of SYMS Construction Trading.
Topnotch Catalyst Builders Inc. — Construction of Riverbank Protection Structure at Barangay Bulihan, Plaridel, Bulacan (P69,479,630.95)
COA said an inspection on September 16, revealed another mismatched project site. The agency said that the original approved site was already occupied by a different flood control project under another contract. While DPWH representatives stated the project was moved, no supporting documents or justification were provided. The structure at the new location also fell short of project specifications. COA had previously issued a Notice of Disallowance in August 2025 due to the agency's failure to submit disbursement vouchers and supporting documents.
Liable parties include Alcantara, Hernandez, Galang, Eumir Villanueva of Topnotch Catalyst Builders Inc., along with the company's officers and board members.
- Construction/Improvement of Slope Protection and Waterways, Barangay Bambang, Bocaue, Bulacan (P98,998,828.43)
This project, a Joint Venture between Topnotch Catalyst Builders Inc. and Beam Team Developer Specialist Inc., received its Notice to Proceed on April 23, 2024, with a target completion of January 17, 2025. COA's inspection found that DPWH-Bulacan 1st DEO representatives led them to a site that did not match the approved location, again without justification or supporting documents. Satellite imagery confirmed an existing flood control structure at the approved site as early as February 29, 2024, suggesting that the accomplishments attributed to the Joint Venture belonged to a different project. Furthermore, the existing structure at the pinpointed site did not meet project specifications.
Those found liable include Alcantara, Hernandez, Galang, Maintenance Section OIC-Chief Jaime Hernandez, Project Engineer John Carlo Rivera, Engineer II John Michael Marcos, Engineer II Claudine Magdalene Magsakay, Engineer II Ericka Justine Chico, and Allan Kevin Payawal of the Joint Venture, as well as its corporate officers and board members.
- Construction / Improvement of Slope Protection Structure and Waterways along Bocaue River, Barangay Turo, Bocaue, Bulacan (P98,994,958.26)
Another Joint Venture, this time between Topnotch Catalyst Builders Inc. and One Frame Construction Inc., received its Notice to Proceed on April 23, 2024, with a completion target of January 17, 2025. Similar to the other cases, DPWH-Bulacan 1st DEO representatives directed COA to a location different from the approved project site, offering no explanation for the change. COA's information indicates an existing flood control structure at the approved site prior to the Joint Venture's contract. Discrepancies were also noted between the original plan and the actual structure built. Required supporting documents were not provided to the COA team.
Liable individuals include Alcantara, Hernandez, Galang, Ramos, Project Engineer Emelita Morales, J. Hernandez, Chico, Engineer II Isiah Lor Galang, and Gian Carlo Galang of the Joint Venture, along with its corporate officers and board members.
According to COA, the individuals implicated in these reports could face charges for graft and corruption under RA 3019, malversation, and falsification of documents under the Revised Penal Code, as well as violations of COA Circular No. 2009-001 and the Government Procurement Reform Act.
The agency said that the initial list of liable persons is not exhaustive and may expand as the audit progresses and new information emerges, expecting more fraud audit reports to be filed with the ICI.
It added that the findings are “critical to the ICI's ongoing investigation into government infrastructure project irregularities.”