COA flags P360 million ghost projects in DPWH-Bulacan

The Commission on Audit (COA) has submitted four new Fraud Audit Reports (FARs) to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), uncovering more ghost and mismatched flood-control projects in Bulacan's 1st District Engineering Office (DPWH).

These latest reports, totaling nearly P360 million, involve projects implemented by M3 Konstract Corporation, SYMS Construction and Trading, and Amethyst Horizon Builders and General Contractor and Development Corp.

One flagged project, the "Construction of Riverbank Protection Structure at Barangay San Roque, Baliuag, Bulacan," worth over P96 million, was found to be constructed in a location different from its approved site.

COA noted that DPWH-Bulacan 1st DEO personnel directed auditors to an incorrect site and provided no explanation.

Inspectors discovered an existing, defective structure at the reported site that belonged to a different project, and the approved site also contained a structure linked to another undertaking.

Furthermore, the district office failed to submit essential documents and presented contradictory information regarding contract costs, variation orders, and contractor identities.