Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon discovered three flood control projects worth P750 million missing during an inspection in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro, on Tuesday morning.
“As of now wala ako makitang proyekto dito, kayo may nakikita ba kayo? Wala!” Dizon said in frustration.
According to the 2024 General Appropriations Act (GAA), the projects were supposed to be built in Sitio Dike, Barangay Apitong along the Panggalaan River. However, when Governor Humerlito Dolor brought Dizon to the site, no structures were found.
Barangay Chairman Mhel Eleponga confirmed that the area identified in the GAA had no projects built in 2024. The only visible structure nearby was a different flood control project funded separately in 2025.
“Basta wala, andito tayo sa site na dini-describe nitong GAA, pero wala tayong nakikita,” Dizon added.
When asked, Oriental Mindoro First District Engineer Salvador Abad could not explain, saying the project was handled by the DPWH regional office. However, the regional director of DPWH-MIMAROPA and the newly appointed project engineers also had no answers.
Dizon ordered an investigation to determine if the missing projects could be considered ghost projects. He and Governor Dolor also inspected the Mag-asawang Tubig River flood control project in Barangay Tagumpay, which Dolor described as both substandard and overpriced.
The 1.5-kilometer structure, built in 2023 and 2024 at a cost of P2.6 billion through seven separate contracts, suffered major collapses during heavy rains and typhoons in July 2025.
“Ito ang matindi chinop-chop. Iisa din naman ang contractor; iisa ang date of bidding; iisa ang date of award; iisa ang date of contract; iisa ang date of notice to proceed at iisa ang date of received ng company. Di ba naglolokohan tayo Secretary noon? Limang Sunwest, isang St. Timothy, isang Elite. Yung Elite naman at St. Timothy alam naman iisa may ari noon,” Dolor said.
“Clearly hindi siya ghost. Mayroon. Pero ang dami ko agad nakikita na major na problema. Hindi lang sa paggawa kundi sa proseso. Dito na tayo pupunta sa structural at systemic problem sa loob ng DPWH na mayroong project na parang umusbong na lang out of nowhere,” Dizon added.
Dolor also revealed there was no coordination with local governments and said excavations showed sheet piles used were only three meters long instead of the 12 meters required by the design.
“Nakakarindi ito. Talagang irereport ko ito mismo kay President bukas na nagpunta ako dito kasi sigurado ako hindi lang sa Naujan, Oriental Mindoro nangyayari ito,” Dizon said.
Dizon assured that all responsible parties will be held accountable.
“Yung lahat ng responsible dito, mananagot dito. Yun ang utos ng president lahat ng kailangang managot ay dapat managot,” he stressed.
“Kung mayroon man involvement yung mga nasa taas ng RD hanggang pababa ng RD kailangang managot dito, kailangan managot ng mga kontratista dito,” he added.
At Dolor’s request, Dizon ordered the suspension of repair works on the collapsed structures while an assessment is ongoing and agreed to let the provincial government handle future flood control projects.
