Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) special adviser and Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong expressed dismay after discovering more questionable construction projects in La Trinidad, Benguet funded by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Magalong on Tuesday inspected the P177-million Bolo Creek flood control project, solar street lights, and road safety guardrails, among others. He found out that the structure, which was supposed to mitigate flooding, lacked engineering specifications and appeared to obstruct the natural flow of water instead.
The ICI official said even an ordinary citizen could easily deduce that the project was a failure after La Trinidad Municipal Engineer Benedict Pineda failed to explain its technical purpose.
Magalong has requested the local government to submit feasibility and technical documents and said he will tap hydrology experts for further evaluation.
The inspection also revealed irregularities in solar street light installations. Under the contract, 1,290 units were supposed to be placed along Irisan to La Trinidad, but only 691 units were counted.
The lights were also reportedly overpriced, with costs ranging from ₱130,000 to ₱209,000 per unit—nearly triple the factory price of ₱34,000 to ₱46,000. Some poles were non-functioning, while others had yet to be installed.
For road safety guardrails, Magalong flagged suspicious overpricing at around ₱100,000 per meter, compared to the market price of ₱30,000.
Magalong emphasized that the anomalies go beyond contractors and involve deeper networks of corruption. He said the ICI, in coordination with the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), is gathering evidence, with criminal charges set to be filed against those found liable.
