The government lost ₱6.45 billion in 2024 due to more than 700 unusable or idle infrastructure projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), according to the Commission on Audit (COA).
COA said 747 projects failed to comply with contract provisions because of “lack of proper supervision and monitoring.”
Auditors found technical defects that rendered the projects unusable, compromising public safety and risking further destruction of infrastructure.
COA warned these issues “ultimately result in the wastage of government funds and resources if not immediately addressed.”
Defective projects were reported in five district engineering offices in the Cordillera Administrative Region, one in Ilocos Region, 11 in Cagayan Valley, seven in Mimaropa, seven in Bicol, nine in Western Visayas, two in Eastern Visayas, two in Zamboanga Peninsula, five in Northern Mindanao, and two in Caraga.
In CAR, auditors flagged 31 projects worth ₱54.7 million for pavement cracks, substandard work, and overpayments.
The Ilocos Region listed three projects worth ₱45.7 million with major structural and settlement cracks.
Cagayan Valley recorded 183 projects valued at ₱52.4 million with broken pavements, leaking roofs, and collapsed revetment walls.
Western Visayas suffered the largest losses, with ₱3.46 billion wasted from 130 projects due to pavement and structural defects.
COA urged the DPWH to compel contractors to correct defects immediately and to strengthen inspection and monitoring to ensure projects meet approved plans and specifications.