Land Transportation Office (LTO) Chief Assistant Secretary Markus Lacanilao has revealed that the construction company connected to former Ako Bicol Representative Zaldy Co, Sunwest Inc., has secured projects worth ₱2 billion from the LTO.
In a press conference on Tuesday, Lacanilao reported that the buildings had been completed; however, findings from the Commission on Audit (COA) revealed that they were being underutilized.
“The COA report highlighted several serious issues, including the improper use of the IT dormitory, which was offered at a low cost to its occupants, poorly maintained dormitory rooms, and idle IT hub equipment,” he explained.
He further clarified that the underutilization of the buildings resulted from payments that had not yet been made due to questions raised by the LTO. However, during the leadership of Vigor Mendoza, the LTO made payments of nearly ₱2 billion in December 2024.
Lacanilao mentioned that these findings would be submitted to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) and emphasized that the LTO would fully cooperate with the agency to ensure transparency and accountability.
In 2021, Sunwest Inc. was awarded three projects, including a two-storey building costing over ₱499 million and a Central Command Center with an amount of ₱946 million.
