Jonathan Frederic De Santos

Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon and Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong inspect  the construction of concrete revetment in Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental on September 25, 2025. The project cost is estimated at P96.5M, while the contractor is St. Timothy Construction Corp. | Independent Commission for Infrastructure handout photo

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Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon and Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong inspect  the construction of concrete revetment in Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental on September 25, 2025.
The project cost is estimated at P96.5M, while the contractor is St. Timothy Construction Corp. | Independent Commission for Infrastructure handout photo

Hernel Tocmo

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1758799047139viber_image_2025-09-25_13-37-37-077.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon and Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong inspect the construction of concrete revetment in Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental on September 25, 2025. The project cost is estimated at P96.5M, while the contractor is St. Timothy Construction Corp. | Independent Commission for Infrastructure handout photo</div>DAVAO OCCIDENTAL — Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon has found that work on the P96.5-million flood control project at Culaman Bridge in Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental, only began a few weeks ago and not in 2022 when it should have.The project was awarded in January 2022 to the Discaya-owned St. Timothy Construction Company and was fully paid in the same year, despite no construction work being done.According to Dizon, it was the local community that reported the “ghost project” to the national government, confirming on the ground that construction only started last month.He said he and Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, special adviser to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure, saw heavy equipment and construction materials when they visited the site.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/25/almost-100-of-bidding-in-flood-projects-rigged-ex-dpwh-exec-bernardo-1807">Almost 100% of bidding in flood projects &#x27;rigged&#x27;: Ex-DPWH exec Bernardo </a></div>“So nag-imbestiga kami. Nakuha namin ang mga papeles at plano. Medyo nagulat kami. This project was completed kuno noong 2022. Fully paid noong October 2022,” Dizon said.(So we investigated and we got the documents and the plan. We were a little suprised because it was listed as fully completed in 2022. It was fully paid on October 2022)He said the district engineer admitted that the project was incomplete when full payment was made)  “Tinanong namin siya, bakit ka nagbayad kung hindi pa tapos? Ang sabi niya, nangako naman ang contractor, si Discaya, na tatapusin niya,” he added.(When we asked why payment was made when the project wasn&#x27;t finished. He said that the contractor, Discaya, promised to complete it)<div> </div><div>&#x27;SIGURADO, 100% KULONG&#x27;</div>Dizon also assured the public that  charges will be filed against the contractor and personnel of DPWH Davao Occidental District Engineering Office over ghost flood control project.A show-cause and suspension order will also be issued to several personnel of the district office.“Sigurado, 100% kulong. At kung sino man ang pumirma sa mga papeles na yon na nag-authorize ng payment, kulong lahat yon,” he said.(I&#x27;m sure, 100%, they will be jailed. And whoever signed the documents to authorize payment. They will all go to jail)Magalong said the probe is ongoing to determine whether any politicians and even government auditors were involved in the anomalous project. He said they may file complaints for violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, malversation of funds and violation of the procurement law.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/25/sham-flood-control-projects-placed-in-other-districts-upon-zaldy-co-s-order-alcantara-1108">Sham flood control projects placed in other districts upon Zaldy Co’s order: Alcantara </a></div>&quot;In the side of admin, which is a different case, violation of [Republic Act No. 6713, Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees] or gross misconduct, mayroon din gross negligence, and serious dishonesty,” he said.(For administrative cases, there may be violation of RA 6713, or gross miscondut, gross negligence and serious dishonesty)Dizon also urged personnel to come forward and report anomalous flood control projects in their areas, saying that he doesn’t care if it means losing all district engineers.“Come forward. Present it to me now. Don’t wait, because we will find them,” he said.

Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon revealed that the P96.5-million flood control project at Culaman Bridge in Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental, supposed to have started in 2022, only began a few weeks ago, amid investigations into anomalous flood control projects nationwide.

Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon revealed that the P96.5-million flood control project at Culaman Bridge in Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental, supposed to have started in 2022, only began a few weeks ago, amid investigations into anomalous flood control projects nationwide.

Ghost flood control project uncovered in Davao Occidental

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Ghost flood control project uncovered in Davao Occidental

Hernel Tocmo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Sep 25, 2025 07:19 PM PHT

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Davao Occidental

DPWH

Vince Dizon

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flood control project

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