Jonathan Frederic De Santos

A collapsed dike along the Subaan River. Dennis Datu, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Dennis Datu

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/17565403654261755707498722viber_image_2025-08-21_00-19-45-085.jpg.webp" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="A collapsed dike along the Subaan River. Dennis Datu, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">A collapsed dike along the Subaan River.<em> Dennis Datu, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA (<strong>UPDATED</strong>) — Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan has reassigned engineer Gerald Pacanan to the agency&#x27;s central office, amid an ongoing investigation into alleged irregular and substandard flood control projects, particularly in Oriental Mindoro.</p><p>Engr. Editha R. Babaran has been named the officer-in-charge of the Regional Director’s Office for Mimaropa.</p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/8/19/oriental-mindoro-gov-shows-collapsed-dike-to-dpwh-director-kalokohan-na-ito-0648"><strong>Oriental Mindoro gov shows collapsed dike to DPWH director: &#x27;Kalokohan na ito&#x27;</strong></a></div><p>According to an announcement posted on the DPWH Mimaropa page, engineer Editha Babaran, who previously served as assistant regional director of DPWH Region 2 (Cagayan Valley), has been designated officer-in-charge regional director.</p><p>In recent weeks, Oriental Mindoro Gov. Humerlito “Bonz” Dolor expressed outrage after inspections of collapsed flood control projects in the towns of Naujan and Bongabong revealed that these were allegedly substandard, with undersized steel and thin concrete used in construction.</p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/8/19/oriental-mindoro-governor-names-contractors-behind-9-collapsed-flood-control-projects-0042"><strong>Oriental Mindoro governor names contractors behind 9 collapsed flood control projects</strong></a></div><p>The Commission on Audit is now conducting a fraud audit of the flood control projects in Oriental Mindoro upon the governor’s request.</p><p>Sen. Raffy Tulfo accused Pacanan of receiving kickbacks from projects and of owning a construction company that also handled flood control projects.</p><p>Sen. Panfilo Lacson also cited in a privilege speech the existence of alleged “ghost” flood control projects in Sitio Dike, Barangay Apitong in Naujan town.</p><p>Pacanan has refused to comment on these allegations.</p><p>Babaran, who takes over as officer-in-charge regional director, is a licensed civil engineer with 38 years of experience—26 years in project management and supervision and 12 years in office management and supervisory roles.</p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/8/17/dpwh-engineer-in-collapsed-flood-control-project-in-oriental-mindoro-fired-2312"><strong>DPWH engineer in collapsed flood control project in Oriental Mindoro fired</strong></a></div><p>She also played a major role in the implementation of various infrastructure projects in the Cagayan Valley region.</p><p>Before her appointment as assistant regional director of DPWH Region 2, she served as assistant district engineer of the DPWH Isabela 1st District Engineering Office and later as district engineer of the DPWH Isabela 3rd District Engineering Office. </p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/22/-not-an-isolated-case-lacson-scoffs-at-dpwh-s-excuse-over-ghost-flood-control-projects-1845"><strong>&#x27;Not an isolated case&#x27;: Lacson scoffs at DPWH&#x27;s excuse over &#x27;ghost&#x27; flood control projects</strong></a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jz4TO6AFfeM?si=fNkWqKuyod4nlbqe" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div>

<p>DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan has reassigned engineer Gerald Pacanan to the agency's central office, amid an ongoing investigation into alleged irregular and substandard flood control projects, particularly in Oriental Mindoro.</p>

DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan has reassigned engineer Gerald Pacanan to the agency's central office, amid an ongoing investigation into alleged irregular and substandard flood control projects, particularly in Oriental Mindoro.

DPWH Mimaropa regional director reassigned amid flood control probe

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DPWH Mimaropa regional director reassigned amid flood control probe

Dennis Datu,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 30, 2025 03:54 PM PHT

|

Updated August 30, 2025 07:41 PM PHT

Read More:

DPWH MIMAROPA

ENGR. GERALD PACANAN

FLOOD CONTROL PROJECTS

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