Joselito Malig

Article (news)

Dennis Gasgonia

ABS-CBN News

MANILA - The Commission on Audit (COA) has told the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) that it has uncovered more fraudulent flood-control projects in Bulacan under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) involving P360 million worth of public funds. The COA report again implicated the DPWH Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office (DEO) and three contractors, namely the M3 Konstract Corp., SYMS Construction and Trading, and Amethyst Horizon Builders and General Contractor and Development Corp.The COA said the first project named “Construction of Riverbank Protection Structure at Barangay San Roque, Baliuag, Bulacan,” worth P96,499,936.68, was found in a site different from the approved location.The DPWH-Bulacan 1st DEO did not offer any reason for the site change wherein a structure with &quot;several defects and cracks&quot; was found. A structure was also found in the approved site, but it was &quot;attributed to a different project.&quot;<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/2/coa-submits-fresh-audit-report-to-ici-flags-paid-ghost-projects-in-bulacan-1655">COA submits fresh audit report to ICI; flags ‘paid ghost projects’ in Bulacan</a></div>The COA also discovered that the district office failed to submit pertinent documents and even produced conflicting papers on contract cost, variation order amount, and name of the actual contractor designated to carry out the order.Among those found liable are Bulacan District Engineer Henry Alcantara, Assistant District Engineer Brice Ericson Hernandez along with Louis Raphael DG. Tiqui and other ranking officers of M3 Konstract Corporation.The COA also discovered two questionable projects under SYMS Construction and Trading.One is the “Construction of Flood Control Structure (Revetment), Purok 3 to Purok 4, Barangay Manatal, Pandi, Bulacan,” worth P92,671,196.24.During COA&#x27;s inspection at the approved site, no food control structure was seen or any Indication that works were undertaken by the contractor.Representatives of the DPWH-Bulacan reportedly pinpointed a different project site wherein there was unfinished structure with exposed steel bars, formworks, and sheet piles. <div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/8/26/coa-orders-inspection-of-ongoing-completed-flood-control-projects-in-bulacan-1800"></a><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/8/26/coa-orders-inspection-of-ongoing-completed-flood-control-projects-in-bulacan-1800">COA orders inspection of ongoing, completed flood control projects in Bulacan</a></div>The second project involved the &quot;Construction of Riverbank Protection Structure along Balagtas River, Barangay San Juan (Purok 4), Balagtas, Bulacan&quot; with a total contract cost of P74,11,867.46.Similar to other inspections, COA found another mismatched project site. The auditors also found that the original location did not have a flood control structure.While at the pinpointed site, the COA saw an existing structure that failed to meet the project specifications.&quot;These findings, taken together, point to the fact that this is a ghost project,&quot; said the COA.Those found liable for the SYMS projects include Alcantara, Hernandez, Ernesto Galang, John Michael E. Ramos, Lemuel Ephraim SD. Roque, Jolo Mari V. Tayao, Irene DC. Ontingco, Jefferson S. Buendia, Michelle Cruz, and Sally N. Santos of SYMS Construction Trading.The COA also uncovered the project carried out by Amethyst Horizon Builders and Gen. Contractor and Development Corp.It involved the &quot;Construction of Riverbank Protection Structure along Balagtas River, Barangay Dalig, Balagtas, Bulacan&quot; worth P96,499,605.25.During inspection, a flood control project was seen at the approved location. However, the DPWH-Bulacan 1st DEO representatives pinpointed the project at another location.The auditors found a flood control structure which &quot;did not match the approved plan.&quot; The DPWH-Bulacan 1st DEO also failed to provide any of the necessary and pertinent documents regarding the project, indicating that it is another &quot;ghost project.&quot;<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/26/bulacan-ghost-project-originated-from-nep-not-congress-lawmaker-1136">Bulacan &#x27;ghost&#x27; project originated from NEP, not Congress: lawmaker</a></div>Those found liable include Alcantara, Hernandez, Galang, Ontingco, Ramos, Mendoza, Cruz Engineer Jasmine Jean I. Gonzaga, and Rochelle R. Campos of Amethyst Horizon Builders and Gen. Contractor and Development Corp. as well as the company&#x27;s officers and members of the board.&quot;The individuals involved may face charges for graft and corruption under the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, malversation, and falsification of documents under the Revised Penal Code, as well as violations of COA Circular No. 2009-00 1 and the Government Procurement Reform Act,&quot; the COA said.

The Commission on Audit (COA) has told the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) that it has uncovered more fraudulent flood-control projects in Bulacan under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) involving P360 million worth of public funds.

The Commission on Audit (COA) has told the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) that it has uncovered more fraudulent flood-control projects in Bulacan under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) involving P360 million worth of public funds.

COA uncovers 4 more fraudulent projects in Bulacan

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COA uncovers 4 more fraudulent projects in Bulacan

Dennis Gasgonia,

ABS-CBN News

Published October 10, 2025 05:34 PM PHT

Read More:

COA

Ghost projects

ICI

Construction

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