Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon has issued separate Show-Cause Orders to the Regional Director of DPWH Regional Office XI and the District Engineer of the Davao Occidental District Engineering Office. The orders seek explanations regarding the P96.5-million Culaman Bridge Flood Control Project in Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental, which was paid in full in 2022 but remains unfinished.
Dizon directed the orders to DPWH-Davao Regional Director Juby Cordon and Davao Occidental District Engineer Rodrigo Larete following a recent inspection of flood control projects. During their Thursday inspection, Dizon and former Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) special adviser Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong discovered that construction had only begun three weeks prior, despite the project being declared complete and fully paid in 2022.
The project was awarded to St. Timothy Construction Company, owned by contractors Sarah and Curlee Discaya, who are currently under investigation for alleged corruption in flood control projects.
Dizon instructed Cordon to submit a sworn written explanation within five days on why he should not face administrative liability for potential violations of laws, regulations, and orders. Larete received a similar directive to explain why no administrative case should be filed against him.
Both orders state that failure to respond within the period will be considered a waiver of their right to explain, and the office will decide based on existing records and evidence. Larete, as the province’s district engineer, also attended the recent inspection by Dizon and Magalong at the P96.5-million project site.
