Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Alcantara

Andrea Taguines

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1756948763017cropped-Screen Shot 2025-09-04 at 9.08.45 AM.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Former DPWH Bulacan First District Engineer Henry Alcantara faced tough questioning at the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on September 1, 2025 over &#x27;ghost&#x27; flood control projects in the province. Senate livestream/screengrab</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA <strong>(2nd UPDATE) </strong>— Suspended Bulacan 1st District Engineer Henry Alcantara has officially been dismissed from service, effective Thursday, according to Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon.</p><p>This, after Dizon discovered another ghost flood control project cleared by Alcantara. This time, it’s worth over P96 million and located in Barangay Sipat in Plaridel, Bulacan.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/11/a-deeper-look-into-marcos-s-list-of-top-flood-control-contractors-0037">A deeper look into Marcos’s list of top flood control contractors</a></div><p>Two other officials who signed off on the project will face dismissal proceedings as well. </p><p>They are Assistant District Engineer Bryce Ericson Hernandez and Jaypee Mendoza, the chief of the construction section of the Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office. </p><p>An immigration lookout bulletin order has also been issued against all three of them.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/3/dpwh-chief-dizon-seeks-lookout-order-vs-personalities-tagged-in-ghost-flood-projects-0942">DPWH chief seeks immigration lookout order vs persons tagged in &#x27;ghost&#x27; flood projects</a></div><p>“Next week I will ask the DPWH legal to recommend filing appropriate charges against Henry Alcantara. Obviously criminal ito. Pagnanakaw ito eh, P100 million,” said Dizon.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>ANOTHER &#x27;GHOST&#x27; PROJECT</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Based on DPWH data, the project was declared 100-percent completed in June 2024— which was even ahead of the 270-day schedule. Records also showed that the contractor, Wawao Builders, was paid in full in July 2024 or a month after.</p><p>But when Dizon visited the site this morning, construction was still ongoing. The foreman, barangay officials, and even residents all said that work only commenced three weeks ago.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F1412828279811025%2F&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=560&amp;t=0" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><p>Dizon suspects that the contractor was pressured to act amid the flood control controversy.</p><p>“Klarong-klaro na ghost project ito pero dahil lang sa mga pangyayari, hinahabol… Siguro three weeks ago umiinit, nag-iimbestiga na ang Senado, nag-iimbestiga na ang Kongreso, nagalit na ang Pangulo, pinipilit buhayin yung patay,” he said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/20/marcos-inspects-flood-control-project-in-bulacan-as-probe-intensifies-0913">Marcos &#x27;very angry&#x27; over P55-M &#x27;ghost&#x27; riverwall project in Baliuag, Bulacan</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;KAHAYUPAN&#x27;</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Dizon also announced that Wawao Builders, along with SYMS Construction Trading are now considered perpetually blacklisted from the DPWH over these ghost flood control projects.</p><p>Cases will also be filed against them.</p><p>“Kahayupan na ito. Hindi tao ‘tong mga taong ‘to,” said Dizon.</p><p>Dizon said they will also investigate and go after other companies that are possibly linked to these contractors.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/9/4/dpwh-permanently-blacklists-wawao-builders-0959">DPWH ‘permanently’ blacklists Wawao Builders</a></div><p>“Kung mahanap namin ang mga kumpanya na sila rin ang may-ari, pati yun papa-ban natin. We will also recommend the filing of charges with the Department of Justice against Wawao Builders and all the people involved here, both those who are clearly dummies and the real owners,” he added.</p><p>Dizon suspects the Wawao Builder owner who faced the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing this week was just a front.</p><p>“Kitang-kita naman natin sa Senate Blue Ribbon, hindi makasagot. So kung ako kay Mr. Arevalo, ang advise ko sa kanya, I should just turn myself in right now kesa naman siya pa ang makulong dahil dito. E mukhang hindi naman talaga siya,” he said.</p><p>Malacañang acknowledged Dizon&#x27;s move, saying it was in line with President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.&#x27;s directive.</p><p>“Ang hakbang na ito ng ahensiya ay alinsunod sa panawagan ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. nang mabilisang pag-aksyon, pagsasampa ng kaso, at pagpapanagot sa mga nasa likod ng mga maanomalyang proyekto,” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>BIDDING OF PROJECTS STILL ON PAUSE</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Moving forward, the DPWH aims to finish in two weeks its review of the agency’s proposed 2026 budget to “trim the fat” such as double entries and repeat funding for supposedly completed projects, as well as the establishment of safeguards in the project bidding process.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/9/4/pcab-executive-director-quits-amid-registration-for-sale-allegation-0851">PH contractors board chief quits amid &#x27;registration for sale&#x27; allegation</a></div><p>Until then, Dizon said the bidding of all locally-funded DPWH projects would remain on pause.</p><p>“Hindi natin pwedeng ituloy ang bidding kung walang safeguards kasi kung hindi mauulit at mauulit ito,” he said.</p><p>“This weekend kakauspin ko ang two former DPWH secretary Bing De Jesus and Babes Singson and I will ask them help me find safeguards, baka naman meron na silang nilagay dati na tinanggal, ibabalik na lang natin,” he added.</p><p>Meanwhile, Dizon said many DPWH executives have already tendered their courtesy resignations, including all the undersecretaries. <strong>—With a report from Harlene Delgado, ABS-CBN News</strong></p><div><br/></div><div><em></em><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><strong></strong><br/></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/ghUKUsAnWUs?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><strong></strong><em><strong></strong></em><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/-1kPpgculqY?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon said he would also recomment the filing of charges against the dismiised official.</p>

DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon said he would also recomment the filing of charges against the dismiised official.

DPWH sacks district engineer Henry Alcantara over Bulacan 'ghost' projects

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DPWH sacks district engineer Henry Alcantara over Bulacan 'ghost' projects

Andrea Taguines,

ABS-CBN News

Published Sep 04, 2025 09:25 AM PHT

|

Updated Sep 04, 2025 03:33 PM PHT

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DPWH

Henry Alcantara

Bulacan

flood control

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