Lacson: DPWH Has Become a Playground for Syndicates

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has become a playground for criminal syndicates as additional information on the mafia-like activities of its engineering offices in various parts of the country continue to surface, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Wednesday.

Lacson cited additional information reaching him on the involvement of DPWH officials in anomalous flood control projects, including projects that were not in the report submitted to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

“There are so many irregularities involving the district engineering offices. The district engineer points to contractors and borrows their licenses, which he will use to implement the project. There are also feelers that there are irregularities in even the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board. The DPWH has become a playground for syndicates,” he said.

In Filipino: Lacson: DPWH, Naging Pugad Para sa Mga Sindikatong Kriminal

In an interview on DZRH radio, Lacson noted these syndicate-like activities are not only in Bulacan, but also in other areas like San Carlos City in Negros Occidental.

During his privilege speech last Aug. 20, Lacson detailed the corruption behind failed and ghost flood control projects in other areas such as Pampanga, La Union, and Oriental Mindoro.

Lacson also cited information reaching him showing there were many questionable transactions with fly-by-night contractors. He cited the case of Darcy and Anna Builders, which bagged several flood control project contracts in Bulacan.

Worse, he said the “funders” or lawmakers who pushed for insertions for the tainted projects in the budget remain emboldened because there is no transparency in the budget process, and the projects cannot be traced to them.

He said this greed was behind the corruption in the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA), where the DPWH was given a bigger budget than the education sector – a violation of the 1987 Constitution. The subsidy of PhilHealth for 2025 was removed similarly because of such greed, he said.

“Because of such greed, the funders sought to accommodate funding for the projects at the expense of PhilHealth and other agencies. That was the first time I heard of the regular budget being realigned to the unprogrammed fund. Next thing we know, they may target the automatic appropriations next,” he said.

Lacson reiterated this is why he continues to fight for full transparency in the budgeting process, so lawmakers who propose amendments or realignments will be identified – and held accountable if the projects turn out to be anomalous or ghost.

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Lacson: DPWH, Naging Pugad Para sa Mga Sindikatong Kriminal

Isa nang malaking pugad para sa mga sindikatong kriminal ang Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). Iginiit ito ni Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson nitong Miyerkules, matapos niyang matanggap ang bagong impormasyon sa mala-mafia na galaw ng mga engineering offices nito sa iba’t ibang parte ng bansa.

Binanggit ni Lacson ang bagong impormasyon na nakarating sa kanya tungkol sa pagkasangkot ng opisyal ng DPWH sa maanomalyang flood control projects, kabilang ang mga proyektong hindi nakasama sa ulat na naisumite kay Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

“Maraming kalokohan talaga… Parang turo-turo ng District Engineer, ‘Ikaw na, akin ang lisensya mo.’ Meron pa ngang feelers pati Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board, ang accreditation board, may kalokohan,” ayon sa mambabatas.

Sa panayam sa DZRH, ipinunto ni Lacson na ang mga mala-sindikatong aktibidad na ito ay hindi lamang sa Bulacan kundi pati na rin sa ibang lugar tulad ng San Carlos City sa Negros Occidental.

Nabanggit na rin ni Lacson sa privilege speech niya noong Agosto 20 na may katiwalian din sa likod ng mga palpak at guniguning flood control project sa Pampanga, La Union, at Oriental Mindoro.

Dagdag pa ni Lacson, may impormasyon siyang natanggap tungkol sa mga kuwestiyonableng transaksyon sa mga fly-by-night contractors. Binanggit niya ang kaso ng Darcy and Anna Builders, na nakakuha ng ilang kontrata para sa flood control projects sa Bulacan.

Ang mas malala dito, ani Lacson, ang mga “funder” o mga mambabatas na nagsusulong ng insertions para sa mga kuwestiyonableng proyektong ito sa budget ay patuloy na lumalakas ang loob dahil walang transparency sa budget process, kaya hindi sila natutukoy bilang responsable.

Iginiit niya na ang kasakiman na ito ang nasa likod ng korapsyon sa 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA), kung saan binigyan ng mas malaking budget ang DPWH kaysa sa sektor ng edukasyon — na labag sa 1987 Constitution. Idinagdag pa niya na ang subsidy ng PhilHealth para sa 2025 ay tinanggal din dahil sa ganitong kasakiman.

“Siguro sa dami nilang matatakaw, di magkasya sa kanila at iba siguro pagkalaki na ang funder gustong i-insert, para ma-accommodate lahat, nagtanggal sa PhilHealth at iba. Ngayon ko lang narinig from regular budget ni-realign sa unprogrammed fund… Baka sa susunod kung di naawat ito pati automatic appropriations baka panghimasukan na nila,” wika ni Lacson.

Muling iginiit ni Lacson na ito ang dahilan kung bakit patuloy siyang lumalaban para sa ganap na transparency sa proseso ng pagbuo ng budget, upang matukoy at mapanagot ang mga mambabatas na nagsusulong ng amendments o realignments, lalo na kung ang mga proyektong ito ay mapatunayang anomalya o ghost projects.

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