Jamaine Punzalan

Article (news)

Andrea Taguines

ABS-CBN News

<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F1417092499924108%2F&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=560&amp;t=0" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p>MANILA — Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon sacked on Friday three officials of the Pampanga 2nd District Engineering Office after they allegedly tried to score kickbacks from infrastructure projects.</p><p>“Nakakuha tayo ng report a few days ago na merong mga nangingikil at humihingi ng porsyento, up to 8 percent, sa mga kontrata ng DPWH,” said Dizon.</p><p>“One strike policy dito. Pagka may nag-report, tanggal sila… Pagka lumabas sa imbestigasyon na totoong nanghihingi sila, hindi lang sila tanggal, kakasuhan namin sila,” he added.</p><p>Dizon made the announcement during his inspection of the damaged dike in Barangay Candating in Arayat, Pampanga.</p><div><br/></div><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FabscbnNEWS%2Fposts%2Fpfbid05CNczcPZu2kAS4WxBu2HMprvxef7wnphAjoEkszAmVMDkAePhdX7xmv2vMmsN4bXl&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500" width="500" height="709" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p>The nearly 100-million peso project has collapsed twice now. Last January 23, 2026, even the ground it was built on gave in, destroying over a dozen houses.</p><p>The DPWH is still conducting a technical assessment to determine why the revetment project keeps failing, and who should be held responsible for it. But already, Dizon is rejecting claims that the damage was simply ‘an act of God’ or caused by nature.</p><p>Contractor Eddmari Construction and Trading earlier defended its work, saying it was the soil, and not their sheet piles that collapsed.</p><p>“Kung ang sinasabi ni Eddmari na may problema yung lupa, ibig sabihin mali yung ginawa niya. Kasi hindi ka pwedeng magtayo ng kahit ano hangga’t hindi mo nachecheck kung ano ang status ng lupa. Ang unang step lagi, bago ka pa maghukay ng pundasyon, ay soil investigation,” asserted Dizon.</p><p>Dizon and local officials of Pampanga also provided assistance to affected residents. But Dizon believes they may need to implement forced evacuations before the next rainy season comes.</p><p>“Baka kailangan nating magdeclare muna ng danger zone. Technically nasa loob na ‘to ng ilog,” he said.</p><p>The provincial government vowed to look for a nearby resettlement area for those who will be displaced.</p><p>The DPWH also plans to build a rainwater retention basin in the town of Arayat to mitigate flooding not just in Candating, but also in Barangay Cupang, where a portion of the road dike was also damaged by a previous storm.</p><p>Dizon said construction for this will begin as soon as possible.</p><p>“Nung pinakita kasi natin sa (Technical Working Group), sabi nila kulang yung cut-off channel kaya kailangan talaga magtayo na tayo ng retention pond. Mabilis lang yun, magagawa natin in a few months… Para umipon ng tubig kapag lumalaki ang tubig at para hindi masyadong malakas at madami ang hampas ng tubig (sa community),” he explained.</p>

<p>The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on Friday relieved several officials from the Pampanga Second District following reports that they were allegedly asking for commissions from projects.</p>

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on Friday relieved several officials from the Pampanga Second District following reports that they were allegedly asking for commissions from projects.

DPWH relieves several Pampanga 2nd District officials over alleged project commission

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DPWH relieves several Pampanga 2nd District officials over alleged project commission

Andrea Taguines,

ABS-CBN News

Published January 30, 2026 01:54 PM PHT

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Updated January 30, 2026 08:37 PM PHT

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Pampanga

DPWH

corruption

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