Dennis Gasgonia

Article (news)

Job Manahan

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — The Commission on Audit (COA) on Thursday filed a fresh audit report with the Independent Commission for Infrastructure regarding “paid ghost projects” in Bulacan, a document showed.In its report, COA said some flood control projects under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Bulacan’s First District Engineering Office (DEO) do not exist or were transferred to another location but had irregularities.The commission said those involved might be liable for graft and corruption charges under the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, malversation and falsification of documents under the Revised Penal Code.They may also be found liable in violation of COA Circular No. 2009-001 and the Government Procurement Reform Act.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/10/1/coa-to-consider-requiring-officials-to-submit-disclosures-on-financial-business-interests-1838">COA to consider requiring its officials to submit disclosures on financial, business interests – budget sponsor</a></div>Among those flagged were the projects of SYMS Construction Trading in Barangay San Roque, Baliuag, Bulacan that had a total project cost of P92.6 million.“During COA’s inspection on September 24, 2025, no flood control structure existed at the approved location. DPWH-Bulacan 1st DEO instead pinpointed COA to a different location but offered no explanation for the change,” according to the report.“Despite this COA proceeded to inspect the site identified by DPWH, where it found an existing structure that utterly failed to meet the project specifications,” it added.The DPWH-Bulacan 1st DEO also supposedly “failed to submit a significant number of critical supporting documents to COA.”Despite this though, the contractor SYMS Construction was “fully paid.” The COA also noted the construction of a flood control structure in Angat River at Barangay Taal in Pulilan that had a total construction cost of P92.7 million.The structure, fully paid, only had an “abandoned slope protection structure.”Just like the first project, DPWH-Bulacan 1st DEO was not able to submit important documents on the matter.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/8/17/coa-orders-fraud-audit-on-flood-control-projects-in-bulacan-1551">COA orders fraud audit on flood control projects in Bulacan </a></div>Those found liable for these projects included Sally Santos of SYMS Construction, District Engineer Henry Alcantara, and  Assistant District Engineer Brice Hernandez.Meanwhile, COA also flagged the construction of a P69.4-million Riverbank Protection Structure in Barangay Bagong Silang in Plaridel, Bulacan.It identified Topnotch Catalyst Builders, Inc. as its contractor, noting that the project site was &quot;mismatched.&quot;“Again, no explanation was provided by the DPWH-Bulacan 1st DEO representatives why the location was changed. At the original approved project site, COA did not find any flood control structure,” COA said.When they went to the identified location, however, the flood control structure “falls short of the approved specifications.” Just like the projects mentioned in the report, there were also no necessary and critical supporting documents on this.“Based on these findings, COA takes this to mean that the fully paid flood control project does not exist,” it added.Also named in the report is Triple 8 Construction and Supply, Inc. for the construction of Riverwall at Barangay Pagala, Baliuag, Bulacan for a project worth P96.5 million.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/24/ombudsman-opens-probe-into-coa-commissioner-contractor-wife-1047">Ombudsman opens probe into COA commissioner, &#x27;contractor&#x27; wife </a></div>During COA’s inspection on Sept. 23, the flood control project was nonexistent in the identified location.“While DPWH-Bulacan 1st DEO representatives pinpointed the location project at another location. At the pinpointed location, COA found a flood control structure which drastically falls short of the approved plan,” it said.“The audit&#x27;s findings will be crucial for the ongoing investigation conducted by the ICI against those involved in irregularities in government infrastructure projects,” the COA said&quot;As COA fulfills its mandate... the public can expect more fraud audit reports to be filed with the ICI,” it added.So far, the commission already brought 17 fraud audit reports to the ICI and the Ombudsman.

COA filed a fresh audit report with the Independent Commission for Infrastructure regarding “paid ghost projects” in Bulacan.

COA filed a fresh audit report with the Independent Commission for Infrastructure regarding “paid ghost projects” in Bulacan.

COA submits fresh audit report to ICI; flags ‘paid ghost projects’ in Bulacan

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COA submits fresh audit report to ICI; flags ‘paid ghost projects’ in Bulacan

Job Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published Oct 02, 2025 04:55 PM PHT

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Updated Oct 02, 2025 04:56 PM PHT

Read More:

COA

ICI

Paid ghost projects

Bulacan

Ombudsman

graft

corruption

DPWH

SYMS Construction

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