The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee is investigating a list of flood control and other infrastructure projects allegedly proposed by a member of Commission on Appointments in exchange for the confirmation of then DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan in late 2022.
Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson, who chairs the committee, made the announcement on Saturday, saying the information surfaced while he and his staff continue to inspect suspected anomalous flood control projects in other parts of the country.
“We received information that during a CA hearing for Bonoan’s confirmation as DPWH secretary, the confirmation process was used for such a transaction,” he said in a radio interview.
The information, he added, came from former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo.
Lacson also said he is validating the information from Bernardo that the one who made the “request” to Bonoan was from the House of Representatives panel at the time.
The senator said his team continues to check flood control projects including those in Metro Manila – including one where the flooding situation got worse after a pumping station was built there.
“If the project turns out to be substandard or ghost, that would mean new recommendations by the Blue Ribbon Committee for the proper agencies to build cases against those involved,” he said.
As this developed, Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is determined to resolve all anomalous flood control projects, including filing of cases against erring government officials before the Office of the Ombudsman.
“As instructed by President Marcos himself, we will continue to pursue all cases against erring officials and continue referring cases before the Office of the Ombudsman,” said Dizon during a Kapihan ng Samang Plaridel forum.
Dizon said the government has already filed graft and corruption charges against more than 40 individuals, including some 20 DPWH officials.
Dizon added the works being done along Maharlika Highway, stretching from Luzon, and on to Visayas and Mindanao, are temporary, short-term solutions.
“What we are doing now along Maharlika Highways is just a temporary short-term solution as we want our travelers to have smooth travels this Holy Week,” he said.
“Current projects now are re-blocking, only a few segments left. We need to finish the works before Holy Week,” Dizon said.
After Lent, the more comprehensive works would be done, he noted.
“After Holy Week, we will start with the procurement and bidding for the extensive rehabilitation projects,” he said.
The projects cover the provinces of Quezon, Bicol, Camarines Sur, Albay and Samar.
Asked on what is their estimated budget, Dizon said, “We don’t have the estimate yet, what we have right now are the designs.”
He said they are looking to finish the projects by June 2027.
