Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon on Monday said he plans to file a new set of cases against a contractor and several Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials in the Mimaropa region over allegedly substandard flood control projects in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.
Dizon announced this after Oriental Mindoro Gov. Humerlito Dolor reported the collapse of another section of a road dike along the Mag-Asawang Tubig River, which reportedly worsened flooding in Naujan and Victoria in December last year, displacing residents and damaging properties.
The public works chief said the newly collapsed portion is part of the same road dike system where an earlier flood control project had already been flagged as substandard.
Although the damaged section is a different segment, Dizon said it forms part of the same stretch of infrastructure, raising concerns over the integrity of the entire project.
The contractor for the two flood control projects, which have a combined cost of P420 million, was identified as New Big Four J.
This is separate from an earlier project in the same area linked to Sunwest Inc., a firm connected to former lawmaker Zaldy Co, which was also accused of delivering substandard work.
Dizon said recent findings suggest the deficiencies were systemic and not isolated, noting that the latest inspection by Governor Dolor reinforced long-standing concerns about the project.
He said multiple criminal, civil, and administrative cases are being prepared, citing “layer upon layer” of alleged violations.
Dizon added that while the contractor differs from earlier cases, the DPWH officials who approved the project are the same, including former regional director Gerald Pacanan, who signed the project documents.
As an immediate step, Dizon said the DPWH will compel the contractor to repair the damaged structure, as the project remains under warranty. A formal demand letter will be issued to require New Big Four J to carry out the repairs at its own expense.
Beyond the repairs, Dizon reiterated that cases will be pursued against both the contractor and the DPWH officials involved.
