Joselito Malig

Article (news)

Rowena Caronan

ABS-CBN Research and Verification Unit

<p>Bulacan 1st District Engineer Henry Alcantara was the first to be dismissed amid the flood control controversy that has dominated headlines. </p><p>He went under fire during separate hearings of the chambers of Congress and was criticized for certifying an alleged ‘ghost’ project.</p><p>Alcantara may not be the last to be scrutinized.</p><p>Nine in 10 flood control projects that are now under public scrutiny were handled at the level of the district engineering office (DEO) of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).</p><p>Based on data from the ‘Sumbong sa Pangulo’ website, the DEOs completed 8,882 flood control projects worth P447 billion between July 2022 and May 2025.</p><p>In an interview in ANC, former DPWH chief Rogelio Singson said flood control projects were ‘chopped’ into smaller amounts to stay within the authority of district engineers instead of central and regional engineers.</p><p>According to DPWH Department Order No. 250, signed by then DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan in December 2022, district engineers are authorized to procure, implement, and approve projects with a budget of up to P150 million. Projects costing up to P400 million are handled by regional engineers while those above that amount are by central engineers.</p><p>‘What used to be the P50-million authority of the district office, itinaas ng P150 million. So, yun P1 billion china-chop-chop,’ said Singson, who preceded Bonoan and led the agency from 2010 to 2016.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>BULACAN, MANILA, CEBU, TARLAC DEOs LEAD</strong></div><p>Six of 187 DEOs authorized nearly a fifth of the total flood control projects completed across the country under the term of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.</p><p>Each of the six DEOs had combined contracts of at least P10 billion, far higher than the P2.4-billion average of the other district offices.</p><p>Bulacan 1st DEO, headed previously by Alcantara, leads in terms of both the highest number and cost of flood control projects – 450 projects amounting to P28.9 billion. That is equivalent to 7 out of 10 projects in Bulacan.</p><p>Bulacan 2nd DEO had the fourth highest in total contract cost, with 190 projects amounting to P12.4 billion.</p><p>Bulacan 1st DEO was responsible for the first, second, and fifth legislative districts of Bulacan, while Bulacan 2nd DEO covered the third, fourth, sixth, and San Jose del Monte legislative districts. </p><p>North Manila DEO holds the second spot, with 185 projects totaling P12.77 billion. This district office was in charge of the projects in the city of Manila.</p><p>Cebu 7th DEO, which was created in February 2021, was the third highest, with 170 projects amounting to P12.76 billion. It was tasked with the seventh legislative district of Cebu, which includes eight municipalities.</p><p>Metro Manila 1st DEO comes in fifth, with 228 projects worth P12.1 billion. It had authority over projects in the legislative districts of Taguig City, San Juan City, Mandaluyong City, and Marikina City as well as the second legislative district of Taguig City.</p><p>Tarlac DEO’s 155 projects had at least P10.4 billion in overall contract value. This district office was tasked with authorizing the projects in legislative districts in the province.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>DEOs WITH FEW TO NO PROJECTS</strong></div><p>While six DEOs lead the flood control projects in contract cost, a handful of others had minimal or no projects at all.</p><p>Siquijor DEO implemented just one project valued at P19.6 million. Ifugao 1st DEO had two projects with a total cost of P37.1 million.</p><p>Meanwhile, 10 DEOs recorded no flood control projects. Except for Camarines Norte DEO, Davao del Norte DEO, and Zamboanga City 1st DEO, the seven others were newly created in 2024:</p><ul><li>•    Bataan 3rd DEO</li><li>•    Bulacan 3rd DEO</li><li>•    Iloilo 6th DEO</li><li>•    Negros Occidental 5th DEO</li><li>•    Southern Leyte 2nd DEO</li><li>•    Bukidnon 4th DEO</li><li>•    Davao City 3rd DEO</li></ul><div><br/></div><div><strong>TOP CONTRACTORS</strong></div><p>Flood control projects of the six DEOs were awarded to 237 contractors, nine of which won at least 30 projects amounting to over P2 billion.</p><p>Six of these companies are owned by individuals named in the Department of Justice’s immigration lookout bulletin order issued on September 4.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/4/immigration-35-people-including-discayas-added-to-lookout-bulletin-order-1920" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Immigration: 43 people, including Discayas, added to lookout bulletin order</strong></a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>1.    QM Builders</strong><strong></strong></div><p>Cebu-based QM Builders is topping the list, having secured the highest total contract value of P5.5 billion from 74 projects of solely Cebu 7th DEO.</p><p>QM Builders acquired the majority of these projects as a single contractor. Only three projects worth almost P200 million were joint ventures with another Cebu-based company, First Grandeur Builders, owned by Gavino Umali.</p><p>Overall, the company bagged the fourth-highest count of flood control projects listed by Malacañang, largely as a solo contractor. Aside from Cebu 7th DEO, it received 22 other projects of the different DEOs in Cebu and Negros Oriental 2nd DEO.</p><p>The company’s president, Allan Quirante, faced scrutiny during the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on the questionable flood control projects on August 19. Quirante owns over two-thirds of the company’s shares, according to corporate filing documents in 2025.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>2.    Topnotch Catalyst Builders Inc.</strong></div><p>Based in Muntinlupa City, Topnotch Catalyst Builders Inc. comes in second, handling 78 projects worth P5.3 billion, as both a solo contractor and co-contractor.</p><p>Topnotch Catalyst Builders received 67 projects, totaling P4.5 billion, under Bulacan 1st DEO. It also acquired a few projects of Metro Manila 1st DEO and North Manila DEO.</p><p>The company ranks sixth in Malacañang’s list of completed flood control projects over the past three years. It secured 88 projects, amounting to almost P6 billion.</p><p>More than half of these projects were won as a single contractor. The rest were joint ventures with either Beam Team Developer Specialist Inc., One Frame Construction Inc., or Black Hardhat Inc. (formerly Jchardhat Inc.).</p><p>Latest corporate filing records show that the company is led by Eumir and Pamela Villanueva, who serve as president and company treasurer, respectively.</p><p>Meanwhile, Allan Kevin Payawal appears as the signatory for joint ventures with Beam Team Developer Specialist, while Gian Carlo Galang for those with One Frame Construction and Black Hardhat. Similar names applied as substitute nominees for the Duterte Youth Party-list in 2019.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>3.    L.R. Tiqui Builders, Inc.</strong></div><p>L.R. Tiqui Builders, Inc. is the third leading contractor handling 55 projects of the top six DEOs, costing P4.7 billion.</p><p>Although the Bulacan-based company won most of its projects, totaling P3.4 billion, under Bulacan 1st and 2nd DEOs, it also secured projects of Metro Manila 1st DEO and Tarlac DEO.</p><p>The company is among the top 15 contractors in Malacañang’s list of completed flood control projects nationwide. It handled 59 projects worth P5.2 billion, mostly as a single contractor.</p><p>In seven of its projects, the company entered into joint ventures with either M3 Konstract Corporation (formerly Margarita Construction) or 729 Construction, Inc. (formerly 722 Construction, Inc.).</p><p>Beyond joint ventures, M3 Konstract and 729 Construction coincidentally share a connection with L.R. Tiqui Builders through common names in official documents.</p><p>Luisito R. Tiqui, the company’s namesake, is the president and owns almost four-fifths of L.R. Tiqui Builders’ shares, based on the latest corporate filing documents.</p><p>One of L.R. Tiqui Builders’ shareholders, Louis Raphael DG. Tiqui represented M3 Konstract as president in the latest DPWH contracts. Another shareholder, Maria Soledad DG. Tiqui represented 722 Construction as an authorized managing officer in DPWH records.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>4.    Eight J&#x27;s Construction Services</strong></div><p>Eight J&#x27;s Construction Services holds the fourth spot, winning 42 projects valued at P3.8 billion from North Manila DEO alone.</p><p>Eight J&#x27;s Construction Services is the leading contractor in Metro Manila, having secured 49 projects worth P4.4 billion as both a solo contractor and co-contractor. Aside from the district offices in Metro Manila, it also won one project of Mindoro Occidental DEO.</p><p>Despite winning projects in Metro Manila, the company listed an office address in Pangasinan. Josefina P. Rosario has been its authorized managing officer in DPWH contracts from 2023 to 2025.</p><p>The company had joint ventures with eight other contractors for 12 projects amounting to P1.2 billion.</p><p>Notable are JIIK Construction Services and JJPR Construction Services, represented respectively by Jacklyn P. Rosario and John Jeric P. Rosario, who share Josefina P. Rosario’s middle initial and surnames, based on DPWH contracts.</p><p>Both companies also listed an office address in Bgy. Tandoc, San Carlos City, Pangasinan. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>5.    Wawao Builders</strong></div><p>The fifth top contractor of the six DEOs is Wawao Builders, acquiring 49 projects valued at P3.7 billion as both a single contractor and co-contractor.</p><p>Wawao Builders received the majority of its projects (44, totaling P3.4 billion) under Bulacan 1st DEO. This is<span style="margin:0px;padding:0px"> </span>despite having an office address in Occidental Mindoro and its shareholders having addresses elsewhere, too.</p><p>Aside from Bulacan 1st DEO, the company acquired five projects amounting to P292.6 million under Metro Manila 1st DEO.</p><p>The company is among the top 15 contractors with the most flood control projects nationwide per Malacañang’s list, securing 60 projects, totaling P4.4 billion. The majority of its projects were won as a single contractor, while seven were won with five other contractors.</p><p>Aside from being a top contractor, the company was in the spotlight for allegedly being involved in a ‘ghost’ project in Bulacan.</p><p>Its president, Mark Allan Arevalo, faced criticism during his appearance at the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing in August. Two weeks later, the DPWH imposed a lifetime ban on the company from participating in any government projects.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>6.    Royal Crown Monarch Construction &amp; Supplies Corp. </strong>   </div><p>Royal Crown Monarch Construction &amp; Supplies Corp. ranks sixth among the contractors that won projects of the top six DEOs. It won all 39 projects, totaling P3.4 billion, under these DEOs as a single contractor.</p><p>The Tarlac-based company acquired 24 projects worth P2.2 billion under Tarlac DEO and 15 projects worth P1.2 billion under Bulacan 2nd DEO.    </p><p>The company stands among the top 15 contractors with the most flood control projects, as revealed by Malacañang, with 60 projects amounting to P5.8 billion.</p><p>Aside from Tarlac and Bulacan, it also handled projects of Pampanga 1st DEO and DPWH Regional Office III.</p><p>Romeo Miranda serves as the company’s president and has 88% ownership over the company, based on the latest corporate filing record.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>7.    M3 Konstract Corporation</strong></div><p>M3 Konstract Corporation places seventh among the contractors of the top six DEOs. All its 38 projects, amounting to P3.1 billion, were won as either a single contractor or a joint venture with L.R. Tiqui Builders.</p><p>Of the 38 projects, 19 were under Bulacan 1st DEO, 11 under Bulacan 2nd DEO, and 8 under Metro Manila 1st DEO.</p><p>Aside from Louis Raphael Tiqui, Benigno R. Ramos also appeared as president of M3 Konstract in older DPWH documents.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>8.    Triple 8 Construction &amp; Supply, Inc.</strong></div><p>Triple 8 Construction &amp; Supply, Inc. is the eighth leading contractor and won 34 projects of the top six DEOs, with a total budget of P2.5 billion, as a single contractor.</p><p>The Bulacan-based company also ranks eighth in Malacañang’s list of completed flood control projects, bagging 60 projects totaling P4 billion. Several of its other projects were acquired under Cavite 1st and 2nd DEOs.</p><p>The majority of the company’s shares are owned by Wilfredo M. Natividad, based on the latest corporate filing documents.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>9.    JB Construction and Supply Inc.</strong></div><p>JB Construction and Supply Inc. won 35 projects amounting to P2.3 billion under Bulacan 1st and 2nd DEOs.</p><p>Most of its projects were acquired as a single contractor, while 10 projects were won in a joint venture with Azul Builders (8 projects, P752 million) and Alpha &amp; Omega Gen. Contractor &amp; Development Corp. (1 project, P154.4 million)</p><p>The latter company is owned by Cezarah Rowena C. Discaya, or Sarah Discaya, who lost in the 2025 Pasig City mayoralty race and is under the microscope amid the ongoing probe into anomalous flood control projects. <strong><em>- with research from Kevin Luis Fernandez, Jeshua Jeric Montenegro, Christopher Jerard Parca, and Eliseo Ruel Rioja</em></strong></p>

<p>Six district engineering offices authorized almost 20% of the over 9,000 flood control projects listed by Malacañang. Nine contractors – some with potential overlapping ownership – each won at least 30 projects, amounting to over P2 billion.</p>

Six district engineering offices authorized almost 20% of the over 9,000 flood control projects listed by Malacañang. Nine contractors – some with potential overlapping ownership – each won at least 30 projects, amounting to over P2 billion.

LIST: Top district engineering offices, contractors in their projects

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Traffic

Manila

Horoscope

Nation

LIST: Top district engineering offices, contractors in their projects

Rowena Caronan,

ABS-CBN Research and Verification Unit

Published Sep 06, 2025 06:48 PM PHT

Read More:

Flood Control Projects

Infrastructure

Public Infrastructure

DPWH

Contractors

Public Contracts

Flood Control

District Engineers

District Engineering Office

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.