Arthur Fuentes

Various flood-mitigating structures in Barangay Meyto, Calumpit, Bulacan, remain unfinished, as seen in these photos taken on September 10, 2025. SumbongSaPangulo.ph listed seven flood control projects in Barangays Meyto and San Jose, Calumpit, Bulacan—worth hundreds of millions of pesos and supposedly completed between 2023 and 2024 under the Bulacan First District Engineering Office, which is under scrutiny for alleged ghost projects in the province. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

FLOOD CONTROL PROBE - CALUMPIT

Andrea Taguines

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17576741185141757674115280.jpeg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Various flood-mitigating structures in Barangay Meyto, Calumpit, Bulacan, remain unfinished, as seen in these photos taken on September 10, 2025. SumbongSaPangulo.ph listed seven flood control projects in Barangays Meyto and San Jose, Calumpit, Bulacan—worth hundreds of millions of pesos and supposedly completed between 2023 and 2024 under the Bulacan First District Engineering Office, which is under scrutiny for alleged ghost projects in the province. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Various flood-mitigating structures in Barangay Meyto, Calumpit, Bulacan, remain unfinished, as seen in these photos taken on September 10, 2025. SumbongSaPangulo.ph listed seven flood control projects in Barangays Meyto and San Jose, Calumpit, Bulacan—worth hundreds of millions of pesos and supposedly completed between 2023 and 2024 under the Bulacan First District Engineering Office, which is under scrutiny for alleged ghost projects in the province. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>MANILA — A former government contractor has come forward to reveal how public works projects are allegedly manipulated from the very start of the bidding process, pointing to collusion among lawmakers, contractors, and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials.</p><p>According to “Aldrin”, not his real name, the lawmaker’s choice of contractor is predetermined, making the entire bidding process a mere formality.</p><p>The technical working group under the Bids and Awards Committee allegedly facilitates the paperwork, including bid amounts, while ensuring favored firms secure projects.</p><p>“Sa bidding pa lang, may dayaan na e. Ibababa ng pulitiko yung budget, sasabihin niya kung sino yung magiging contractor niya. From there, aayusin na ng DPWH lahat ng documents for that contractor,” said Aldrin.</p><div><strong>“LOSING BIDDERS” STILL PROFIT<br/></strong></div><p>While some contractors consistently win bids, others reportedly make a living as “losing bidders.”</p><p>In Aldrin’s experience, they help facilitate the fake bidding as long as they also make a profit out of it.</p><p>“Normal na sa kanila yun, ginagawa nilang hanapbuhay. Kahit hindi siya manalo sa bidding, nakakakuha naman siya ng dibidendo sa pagiging losing bidder niya,” he said.</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/q72EQiVXQJU?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>For example, if a project is worth P100 million, Aldrin said around three percent, or P3 million, could be set aside as “bidding expenses.”</p><p>This amount would then be divided among the technical working group members and the losing bidders. A much larger portion would go to the proponent of the project. Other times, “losing bidders” are also rewarded with a project of their own. But the same arrangement remains.</p><p>“Halimbawa, ako ang winning bidder dito, magbibigay akong dibidendo. Ikaw naman sa kabila, winning bidder ka, magbibigay ka rin ng dibidendo. Kung kasali ako, mabibigyan pa rin ako ng dibidendong binigay mo,” he said.</p><div><strong>CASH PAYMENTS, NO PAPER TRAIL</strong></div><p>All transactions allegedly happen off the books.</p><p>“Puro cash basis. Wala namang paper trail. Tatawagan ka na lang o kaya yung liaison mo nandoon, ibibigay sa kanya. Walang tseke yan, puro cash yan,” he said.</p><p>He shared that contractors usually have liaisons who claim the money.</p><p>“Tatawagan ka na lang o kaya yung liaison mo, nandoon. Sila yung nag-aattend ng bidding so pag may mga sobreng for distribution, direct na sa liaison. Hindi na yung mismong contractor ang pumupunta,” added Aldrin.</p><div><strong>KICKBACKS TIED TO PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION<br/></strong></div><p>The whistleblower further alleged that contractors are required to give a percentage of every collection to agency officials.</p><p>“Let’s say meron siyang standard na 20-percent (na) hinihingi niya for the whole amount. Pro-rata yun sa collection mo, nagbibigay ka. For every collection, nagbibigay ka,” he said.</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/I8Npa1ZH9oc?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>Those who refuse to participate are excluded entirely.</p><p>“Kung gusto mong malinis, hindi ka makakakuha ng project sa kanila. Hindi ka kasama sa circle dahil ayaw mong sumali sa system nila e,” he said.</p><div><strong>LAWMAKERS AND DISTRICT ENGINEERS</strong></div><p>The former government contractor also alleged that lawmakers exert influence over district engineers, reshuffling them at will to ensure compliance.</p><p>“May kilala na ‘kong naganyan. Ayaw niya sa nakaupong district engineer, ipapalipat niya. Ngayon, yung bagong district engineer, siyempre, indebted ka sa kanya, sunud-sunuran ka ngayon,” he said.</p><p>Aldrin believes this is how things are done across the country, not just in certain districts or regions.</p><p>“Parang talamak na yung ganun e… actually yung system nila kung sinusunod lang, maganda na. Talagang intentional lang na hindi nila ginagawa,” he said.</p><div><em>This story is part of an ABS-CBN News special documentary on Philippine flood control projects.<br/></em></div><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CTz8aDj5HNQ??si=Rd_tTiIVFSwkRYLI&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>“Sa bidding pa lang, may dayaan na e," the former government contractor said.</p>

How bids are rigged in flood control projects: a former contractor speaks

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How bids are rigged in flood control projects: a former contractor speaks

Andrea Taguines,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 12, 2025 08:05 PM PHT

|

Updated September 12, 2025 11:16 PM PHT

Read More:

DPWH

flood control projects

corruption

rigged bidding

whistleblower

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