At least P3.713 billion in public funds may have been wasted on projects along areas of Laguna Lake in Taguig City that are subject to government action over “illegal” reclamation, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson disclosed on Monday.
“WASTED PUBLIC FUNDS DUE TO MISUSE: Based on official records and our investigation, the total cost of Identified completed, ongoing (and suspended) DPWH Flood Control and Multi-Purpose Projects along the ‘illegal’ Laguna Lakeshore Reclamation Areas in Taguig City has so far reached ₱3.713 billion,” Lacson said in a post on X.
In Filipino: Lacson: Hindi Bababa sa P3.713-B Pondo ng Bayan, Nasayang sa mga Proyektong Saklaw ng ‘Illegal’ Reclamation sa Taguig
“These do not include other anomalous Slope Protection and Flood Mitigation projects along Taguig River involving double appropriations and ‘ghost’ projects using recycled photographs in different ‘completed’ projects, for billing purposes,” he added.
Lacson said the latest findings will be among the pieces of evidence he and his team will send to the Office of the Ombudsman’s fact-finding team “for proper disposition.”
WASTED PUBLIC FUNDS DUE TO MISUSE:
Based on official records and our investigation, the total cost of identified completed, ongoing (and suspended) DPWH Flood Control and Multi-Purpose Projects along the ‘Illegal’ Laguna Lakeshore Reclamation Areas in Taguig City has so far…
— PING LACSON (@iampinglacson) August 31, 2026
Citing official records and his and his team’s investigation, Lacson said the top five contractors involved in projects covering P2.372 billion include:
1) Dahl Construction: ₱858.22 million covering five solo projects worth P571.5 million and four joint ventures totaling ₱286.7 million;
2) J.C. Uyecio: ₱483.1 million covering four joint ventures;
3) Toughbuilt: ₱434.2 million covering three solo projects;
4) Topnotch: ₱329.9 Million covering two joint ventures with Core Check and one with Beam Team; and
5) GR Fervidal: ₱266.6 Million covering five solo multi-purpose building projects
All of the multipurpose building projects of GR Fervidal were suspended due to a “revision of plans” involving soil re-investigation, Lacson said.
Earlier, Lacson said Department of Public Works and Highways Sec. Vince Dizon “guaranteed” him that the DPWH would immediately issue cease-and-desist orders on projects linked to the illegal reclamation once he receives the appropriate requests from the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA), to prevent further waste of government funds on contractors carrying out unauthorized or illegal activities.
Dizon was quoted in reports as saying on Sunday that the DPWH has already issued the cease-and-desist orders, following a directive from the Office of the President coursed through the PRA.
Lacson also said PRA officials had told him and his staff that all unpermitted reclaimed areas in Taguig City, whether belonging to the local government or to private individuals, are subject to forfeiture in favor of the national government.
On Saturday, Lacson disclosed that at least four parcels of illegally reclaimed land in Taguig City had been initially identified as covered by “fraudulently” issued land titles while at least four other parcels have no plotted title lots in the Land Registration Authority (LRA)’s digital file.
The disclosure came amid insinuations that Lacson’s earlier findings on the illegal reclamation activities were “fake news.”
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Lacson: Hindi Bababa sa P3.713-B Pondo ng Bayan, Nasayang sa mga Proyektong Saklaw ng ‘Illegal’ Reclamation sa Taguig
Hindi bababa sa P3.713 bilyong pondo ng bayan ang maaaring nasayang sa mga proyekto sa mga bahagi ng Laguna Lake sa Taguig City na sumasailalim sa aksyon ng pamahalaan dahil sa “illegal” reclamation, ayon kay Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson nitong Lunes.
“WASTED PUBLIC FUNDS DUE TO MISUSE: Based on official records and our investigation, the total cost of Identified completed, ongoing (and suspended) DPWH Flood Control and Multi-Purpose Projects along the ‘illegal’ Laguna Lakeshore Reclamation Areas in Taguig City has so far reached ₱3.713 billion,” ani Lacson sa isang post sa X.
“These do not include other anomalous Slope Protection and Flood Mitigation projects along Taguig River involving double appropriations and ‘ghost’ projects using recycled photographs in different ‘completed’ projects, for billing purposes,” dagdag niya.
Sinabi ni Lacson na kabilang ang mga bagong natuklasan sa mga ebidensyang isusumite niya at ng kanyang staff sa fact-finding team ng Office of the Ombudsman, “for proper disposition.”
Batay sa mga opisyal na rekord at sa imbestigasyon niya at ng kanyang grupo, sinabi ni Lacson na kabilang sa “Top 5” contractors na may hawak sa mga proyektong may halagang P2.372 billion ang:
1) Dahl Construction: ₱858.22 milyon, para sa limang solo projects na nagkakahalaga ng P571.5 milyon at apat na joint venture na may kabuuang P286.7 milyon;
2) J.C. Uyecio: ₱483.1 milyon, para sa apat na joint venture;
3) Toughbuilt: ₱434.2 milyon, para sa tatlong solo projects;
4) Topnotch: ₱329.9 milyon, para sa dalawang joint venture kasama ang Core Check at isa kasama ang Beam Team; at
5. GR Fervidal: ₱266.6 milyon, para sa limang solo multi-purpose building projects.
Ani Lacson, sinuspinde ang lahat na multi-purpose building projects ng GR Fervidal dahil sa “revision of plans” na may kaugnayan sa muling pagsisiyasat sa lupa.
Nauna nang sinabi ni Lacson na ginarantiya sa kanya ni Department of Public Works and Highways Sec. Vince Dizon na agad maglalabas ang DPWH ng cease-and-desist orders sa mga proyektong konektado sa illegal reclamation sa sandaling matanggap niya ang mga kaukulang request mula sa Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA), upang maiwasan ang karagdagang pag-aaksaya ng pondo ng gobyerno sa mga contractor na nagsasagawa ng mga hindi awtorisado o ilegal na aktibidad.
Sinabi naman ni Dizon noong Linggo na nailabas na ng DPWH ang mga cease-and-desist order, alinsunod sa direktiba mula sa Office of the President na ipinadaan sa PRA.
Binanggit rin ni Lacson na sinabi sa kanya at sa kanyang staff ng mga opisyal ng PRA na ang lahat ng unpermitted reclaimed areas sa Taguig City, pag-aari man ng lokal na pamahalaan o ng mga pribadong indibidwal, ay maaaring ma-forfeit pabor sa national government.
Noong Sabado, isiniwalat ni Lacson na hindi bababa sa apat na parsela ng illegally reclaimed land sa Taguig City ang unang natukoy na saklaw ng mga “fraudulently” issued land titles, habang hindi bababa sa apat pang parsela ang walang plotted title lots sa digital file ng Land Registration Authority (LRA).
Ang naturang pagsisiwalat ay ginawa kasunod ng mga pahiwatig na ang mga nauna nang natuklasan ni Lacson hinggil sa mga aktibidad ng illegal reclamation ay “fake news.”
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