MANILA, Philippines — Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon admitted that he has received reports of more than 100 “ghost” and “very substandard” projects in various parts of the country.
At the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on Thursday, Dizon said the irregularities were not only found in Bulacan but also in La Union, Oriental Mindoro, Nueva Vizcaya, Eastern Samar, and several areas in Mindanao.
“There are cases in La Union, Oriental Mindoro, Nueva Vizcaya, Eastern Samar, and Mindanao, not just centered in Bulacan. It seems nationwide,” Dizon said.
Among the contractors identified by the secretary were SYMS Construction, Wawao Builders, and St. Timothy Construction Corporation.
Dizon admitted that under past leadership, the department failed in its duty to monitor and oversee projects.
“These responsibilities of the agency were not being done. It’s not only bad performance that went unmonitored, but many cases of no performance at all,” he said.
He added that in just the past two weeks, the DPWH received more than 100 reports of ghost or substandard projects.
Dizon said that the complaint filed against 26 individuals—including DPWH officials and contractors—covers only the flood control projects in the first district of Bulacan.
He pointed out that the Constructors’ Performance Evaluation System and other safeguards meant to address blacklisted contractors were not being enforced.
“What is even more alarming is that it was not only bad performance that was unmonitored and unaddressed. In fact, we found many cases—as Senator [Ping] Lacson also revealed in his privilege speech—of no performance at all,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee issued a subpoena against former DPWH Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral, who has been linked to alleged insertions in the proposed 2026 national budget.
