MANILA, Philippines — During the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on the Bulacan flood control scam on Tuesday, a former assistant district engineer in Bulacac testified that Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) projects in Bulacan from 2019 to 2025 have been consistently substandard due to poor planning, corruption, and lack of proper monitoring.
Brice Hernandez, questioned by Sen. Bam Aquino, claimed that all projects under their office failed to meet design specifications, including flood control structures, buildings, roads, classrooms, hospitals, bridges, and streetlights. “None of the projects matched the planned specifications. Every project had a ‘percentage’ allocation but none were properly executed,” he said.
When asked if any projects were completed without irregularities or met design standards, Hernandez responded, “None, Your Honor. None,” clarifying that his testimony referred specifically to Bulacan and not the wider Region 3.
The period in question spans 2019, when Henry Alcantara assumed office as District Engineer, through 2025. Hernandez alleged that during this six-year period, no project met its intended design or purpose. He also noted that street lighting projects were overpriced, further highlighting alleged financial mismanagement.
Hernandez confirmed that these irregularities occurred under the supervision of Joseph Bernardo, with Alcantara serving as District Engineer.
Former DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan, present during the hearing, admitted he had no prior knowledge of these issues, emphasizing that monitoring reports were supposed to be submitted by the regional office at every phase of construction.
“This is the first time I have heard about all these irregularities in the district engineering office,” he said.
