Rappler
How DPWH flood control corruption became a conspiracy
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is facing scrutiny over alleged corrupt multibillion-peso flood control projects, with "DPWH" being reinterpreted as "Departamento ng Puro Walang Hiya" (totally shameless department) due to public anger.
At least 20 DPWH officials have faced suspension, and one Bulacan district engineer has been dismissed and is under further investigation for potential criminal charges.
A Batangas district engineer was arrested for allegedly possessing P360 million in bribe money intended for an incumbent congressman.
The DPWH has consistently been identified as one of the most corruption-ridden agencies in the Philippines across various administrations.
The evidence of systemic corruption in the DPWH flood control projects, spanning from the 2022-26 period of the Marcos Jr. presidency, was brought to light by a civil society team rather than the government itself.
The complex nature of flood control projects, including remote locations, technicalities, and complicated accounting, makes them vulnerable to collusion between corrupt officials and private contractors.
There is a growing public awareness of the link between recurring flood disasters and the pervasive, large-scale, and brazen corruption in projects designed to prevent them.
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News Sources
See how different news organizations are covering this story. Below are the original articles from various Philippine news sources that contributed to this summary.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has filed criminal complaints against 20 former officials and five contractors before the Office of the Ombudsman for alleged anomalies in flood control projects in Bulacan.
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Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo "Ping" Lacson is advocating for a significant generational overhaul at the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), encouraging new Secretary Vince Dizon to recruit fresh talent to combat deep-seated corruption within the agency.
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DPWH Secretary Vivencio "Vince" Dizon is urging employees to help identify and remove corrupt individuals within the department as part of a major reform initiative.
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Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson will provide newly appointed DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon with evidence against corrupt officials, described as "low-hanging rotten fruits."
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The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) plans to request assistance from the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for the inspection of flood control and other infrastructure projects.
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