Joselito Malig

Article (news)

Ched Rick Gatchalian

ABS-CBN News

<div><br/></div><p>MANILA — No actual bidding happens in most flood control infrastructure projects, as some proponents or lawmakers allegedly pressure district engineers or regional directors to award contracts to their preferred contractors, former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) undersecretary Roberto Bernardo told senators on Thursday.</p><p>At the resumption of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s hearing, Bernardo said lawmakers have strong influence over project placements and on picking winning contractors. </p><p>Bidding is meant to help ensure government awards contracts to firms that can give the best quality for the lowest cost.</p><p>Sen. Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV asked him to clarify whether so-called “bid rigging” actually exists.</p><p>“Kasi napag-usapan po namin dito ‘yung bid rigging, ‘yung posibleng pagmulta ng Philippine Competition [Commission],” the senator said.</p><p>(We were discussing that if there was bid rigging, that may lead to penalties from the Philippine Competition Commission)</p><p>Bernardo, who previously supervised DPWH regional offices in Visayas and Luzon — except the Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley and the Cordillera Administrative Region —explained that engineers and regional directors tend to submit to proponents&#x27; requests, particularly if the lawmakers helped with the funding.</p><p>“Kapag nagpatulong na gano’n, of course natutulungan po kasi sometimes there are project costs beyond ‘yung tinatawag po ninyo na gastos. Doon po may mga nominated na contractors, the usual po na tumutulong mga distrito at mga rehiyon para manalo ‘yon,” Bernardo said.</p><p>(If they ask for &#x27;help&#x27;, of course that help is given because sometimes there are project costs beyond what you would call costs. There nominated contractors and the district and regional offices help to see that they win)</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/12/how-bids-are-rigged-in-flood-control-projects-a-former-contractor-speaks-2005">How bids are rigged in flood control projects: a former contractor speaks</a></div><p>When asked to estimate how much bidding is actually rigged, Bernardo said it&#x27;s almost 100 percent since district engineers and regional directors could &quot;get in trouble&quot; if preferred contractors don&#x27;t win.</p><p>“Sa pananaw ko po, almost 100 percent e... Napipilitan po ang mga district engineers, mga regional directors. Kapag po kasi may nagbaba ng pondo, at hindi napunta sa kanila, katakot-takot na po na panggigipit ang gagawin nito,&quot; he said.</p><p>(In my view, it is almost 100 percent. The district engineers and regional directors are forced to do it. Because if (a proponent) allocates funds and the project does not go to them, we get in trouble)</p><p>He added that some district engineers are even harassed if they refuse lawmakers’ requests.</p><p>&quot;May mga areas po na may naglakad, kapag hindi napunta sa kanila, talagang iipitin ka. Later on, ikaw pa gagawan ng issues, kakasuhan ka pa,&quot; Bernardo said.</p><p>(In some areas where they facilitated the funding and it doesn&#x27;t go to them, they will really go after you. Later on, they will make up issued and file cases against you)</p><p>It may be recalled that in late August, Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Leviste said that district engineer Abelardo Calalo — who allegedly tried to bribe him to block a probe into flood control projects in his area — also <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/26/leviste-contractors-congressmen-tagged-in-dpwh-corruption-may-retaliate-vs-whistleblowers-2001">claimed congressmen themselves select contractors</a> and that no actual bidding takes place.</p><p>Leviste further alleged that contractors &quot;collude&quot; while House members handpick the winning bidders.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS?</strong></div><p>Senate President Vicente &quot;Tito&quot; Sotto III asked Bernardo if &quot;regionalizing&quot; — removing the authority of the district engineer —  the engineering offices can stop the alleged corruption.</p><p>Bernardo replied: &quot;Pwede po &#x27;yan (That&#x27;s possible).&quot;</p><p>He added that in some cases in &quot;unique&quot; areas, bidding is already elevated to the regional level when multiple contractors are competing within a district.</p><p>&quot;Regionalizing... nangyayari po kapag ginawang region ang bidding, hindi masundan ng mga representatives. Iba pong kausapin ang regional director e,&quot; he said.</p><p>(If bidding is done at the regional level... representatives won&#x27;t be able to make impositions. It&#x27;s different dealing with a regional director)</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/14/legislators-contractors-tagged-in-anomalous-flood-control-deals-to-be-invited-to-house-probe-1111">Legislators, contractors tagged in &#x27;anomalous&#x27; flood control deals to be invited to House probe</a></div><p>Sen. Rodante Marcoleta said district engineers are powerless against lawmakers&#x27; preferences, since they can supposedly have them transferred or reassigned.</p><p>&quot;Kahit anong iutos sa inyo ng congressmen, wala po kayong magagawa. Sunud-sunuran po kayo ng congressman, makapangyarihan po talaga,&quot; he said.</p><p>(Whatever congressmen order, you cannot do anything. You have to follow the congressman. They really have power)</p><p>Marcoleta also suggested removing the power of Congress to do budget insertions.</p><p>&quot;Pabayaan na lang natin &#x27;yung executive pero kinakailangan po siguro batayan, para &#x27;yung paglalatag ng project macro, talagang panlahatan, &#x27;yung national impact kitang-kita,&quot; he said.</p><p>(Let&#x27;s leave it to the executive but there must be basis so we can the the national impact of a project)</p><p>Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco clarified that not all representatives pick their &quot;preferred&quot; engineers for promotion. He said that in his district, whoever is next in line to replace the district engineer gets the post.</p><div><strong><br/></strong></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><strong><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/XKNVP-gcn78?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>No actual bidding happens in most flood control infrastructure projects, as some proponents or lawmakers allegedly pressure district engineers or regional directors to award contracts to their preferred contractors, former DPWH undersecretary Roberto Bernardo told senators on Thursday..</p>

No actual bidding happens in most flood control infrastructure projects, as some proponents or lawmakers allegedly pressure district engineers or regional directors to award contracts to their preferred contractors, former DPWH undersecretary Roberto Bernardo told senators on Thursday..

Almost 100% of bidding in flood projects 'rigged': Ex-DPWH exec Bernardo

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Almost 100% of bidding in flood projects 'rigged': Ex-DPWH exec Bernardo

Ched Rick Gatchalian,

ABS-CBN News

Published Sep 25, 2025 06:07 PM PHT

|

Updated Sep 25, 2025 10:51 PM PHT

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Roberto Bernardo

Bidding

DPWH

Flood control projects

Bulacan

Luzon

Visayas

Congress

House of Representatives

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