WE HEARD Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon ordering the immediate repair of defective, substandard, or “ghost” flood control projects, chased by a “one-strike” policy leading to lifetime blacklisting for erring contractors.
The directive to the Philippine Contractors Association Board, following inspections of 421 infrastructure projects in Bulacan, Pampanga and Mindanao found deficient, is aimed at fixing infrastructure in the inspected areas before the rainy season in midyear.
The three-member PCAB, composed of a chairman and two other members, is an agency under the Construction Industry Authority of the Philippines, whose mandate is to issue licenses to local and foreign contractors in the country.
Immediately after being appointed as the new Department of Public Works and Highways head on Aug. 31, 2025 by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. following the resignation of Manuel Bonoan amid the flood control projects controversy, Dizon ordered PCAB’s “sweeping revamp.”
This was part of a larger cleanup directive following reports of “ghost” flood control projects, with Dizon stating he would work with the Department of Trade and Industry to overhaul the agency responsible for licensing contractors.
A significant part of Dizon’s order, based on the marching orders of the President, was the lifetime blacklisting or automatic lifetime bans for any contractor found guilty of implementing “ghost” or substandard projects.
Dizon’s actions were aimed at cleaning up the agency after it was revealed that an initial 15 out of 1,600 validated flood control projects were non-existent.
Dizon has said erring contractors who fail to comply with his orders regarding project completion, quality, or integrity face immediate, severe, and automatic sanctions.
No investigation will be needed for clear-cut cases of illegal practices or substandard work, Dizon ssaid, adding there will be “no more process, no more investigation” before implementing a lifetime ban.
Dizon vowed to overhaul the PCAB to strengthen its role in policing contractors, underscoring that a “one-strike” policy is in effect, where contractors and officials linked to immediate corruption or negligence – such as in the case of the Arayat dike collapse – are penalized immediately.
These actions are part of a broader “clean house” initiative ordered by President Marcos Jr. to tackle corruption, with reports indicating that up to 60 contractors were being reviewed for blacklisting in early 2026.
Dizon’s directive has sparked hope for greater accountability and transparency in public infrastructure which, along with a planned revamp, is seen as a crucial step in removing substandard work and improving project delivery.
We have seen the DPWH is moving away from discretionary “allocables” or “pork barrel” funds in favor of a needs-based budgeting formula., the people guardedly high in hope this approach will break the culture of corruption.
