The Commission on Audit (COA) announced it has formally filed with the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) four fraud audit reports (FARs) that allege large-scale anomalies in Bulacan flood control projects with a combined cost of P330.51 million.
These were all implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) – Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office and awarded to WAWAO Builders.
The four contracts include the construction of a riverbank protection structure in Malolos worth P77.2 million, a riverbank protection structure in Guiguinto worth P99 million, a flood mitigation structure in Calumpit worth P77.2 million, and another riverbank protection structure in Malolos worth P77.1 million.
According to COA’s Special Audit Team (SAT), the projects showed strong indications of possible fraud, including “ghost” projects, unauthorized relocation of structures, and unsupported claims of 100-percent completion.
The commission’s technical inspection teams utilized satellite imagery analysis and document review, flagging serious deficiencies across the four contracts.
Auditors found no concrete flood-mitigation or slope-protection structures at the approved project sites in multiple instances, despite official documents stating the projects were fully completed.
Moreover, DPWH representatives led COA inspectors to different locations from those specified in the approved plans, with the report noting that no formal documentation or written authority was presented to justify these major relocations.
Auditors further noted material deficiencies in critical supporting documents, such as Statements of Work Accomplished, As-Built Plans, and variation order documentation. These are said to severely undermine the credibility of reported accomplishments and payments.
The FARs name several engineers and personnel from the DPWH–Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office and WAWAO Builders as potentially liable, with engineer Henry Alcantara and Mark Allan Arevalo consistently listed across all four reports.
The reports have since been transmitted to the ICI for appropriate criminal, civil, and administrative action. These include possible referral to the Office of the Ombudsman.
