Joselito Malig

Article (news)

Jekki Pascual

ABS-CBN News

An alleged substandard flood control project was discovered in Candating in Arayat, Pampanga. It was completed in 2023, but was damaged just a year later. Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon and Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong, the special adviser of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), inspected the site which is still being repaired a year after it was damaged.They said over P300 million have been spent on the project and yet it is still not being used. The officials noted the project, which started in 2018, may have had either a bad design or it was not planned well from the beginning. Dizon said the design is flawed and at the minimum, there is gross negligence.“Tingin ko lang ang nangyari dito gusto nila mag project, gusto nilang kumita, gumawa sila ng project. Tapos kung ano-ano na lang ginawang plano dito,” said Dizon.Magalong said they will check the measurements of the project. He said, “Tingnan natin baka yung mga katabi [sheet pile], ganun yan eh, minsan may maayos na isa tapos yung iba katabi niya, wala nang ayos.”Dizon and Magalong also confronted the contractor, Edgardo Sagum, owner of Eddmari Construction and Trading.Dizon told Sagum during the inspection: “Engineer, magsabi ka na lang, kasi ang balita namin dito hiniram lang lisensya mo, Magsabi ka na, malalaman din namin yan. Ma trouble ka niyan, di ako nagbibiro.”Sagum, who is related to Pampanga Representative Ana Bondoc, said there is no irregularity in the project. He added that his relation to the lawmaker is just a coincidence.“Hindi siya ghost project. Ginawa naman talaga natin kaya lang etong isang package medyo nag collapse, in good faith naman nag collapse, hindi natin tinatalikuran,” Sagum said, adding that the project is still under warranty so the repair is at no extra cost to the government.Dizon said this project will now be part of the investigation of the ICI. He added there is basis to file charges against the people behind the project.

An alleged substandard flood control project was discovered in Candating in Arayat, Pampanga. It was completed in 2023, but was damaged just a year later.

An alleged substandard flood control project was discovered in Candating in Arayat, Pampanga. It was completed in 2023, but was damaged just a year later.

Suspected 'substandard' flood control project discovered in Pampanga

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Suspected 'substandard' flood control project discovered in Pampanga

Jekki Pascual,

ABS-CBN News

Published Sep 24, 2025 12:27 AM PHT

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Pampanga

DPWH

ICI

flood control

flood control project

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