COA flags P309M in DPWH flood control irregularities

The Commission on Audit (COA) has submitted four additional Fraud Audit Reports to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), detailing irregularities in flood control projects managed by the DPWH - Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office.

These reports highlight issues such as mismatched project sites, ghost projects, and the use of substandard materials, resulting in the misallocation of public funds, now totaling over P309 million.

One flagged project, the Balagtas River Project worth P46.35 million handled by SYMS Construction Trading, was fully paid despite no construction at the approved site and a reported 0.00% completion.

Similarly, the Maycapiz-Taliptip River Project, a P92.59 million endeavor, was declared 100% complete and fully paid, but COA found no flood control structure, deeming it a 'ghost project'.

In both SYMS Construction Trading projects, DPWH officials pointed auditors to different locations without explanation and failed to provide critical documents.