COA flags P351M in non-existent, substandard Bulacan flood control projects

The Commission on Audit (COA) has flagged P351 million in flood control projects in Bulacan for being non-existent or substandard, according to four new fraud audit reports.

These projects were implemented by the DPWH-Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office and fully paid to contractors SYMS Construction Trading, Topnotch Catalyst Builders, and Triple 8 Construction and Supply, Inc.

SYMS Construction Trading received P92.69 million for a revetment in Baliuag and P92.71 million for a flood control structure in Pulilan, with inspectors finding no new structures at the approved sites.

Topnotch Catalyst Builders was flagged for a P69.48-million riverbank protection project in Plaridel, where the approved site lacked a structure, and an alternate site had a substandard wall.

Triple 8 Construction was fully paid P96.5 million for a river wall in Baliuag, but auditors found no project at the designated site and a substandard structure at an alternative location.

The audit's findings will be crucial to the ongoing investigation conducted by the ICI against those involved in irregularities in government infrastructure projects.

DPWH officials including Henry C. Alcantara and others have been held liable for these questionable projects.