Corrupt district engineers, greedy politicians in the P590-B DPWH Flood control heist

The recent order by the Commission on Audit (COA) for a fraud audit of flood control projects in Bulacan province will hopefully instill fear in corrupt government officials, including legislators in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, as well as DPWH officials who have been feasting on billions of taxpayer money.   Consider how P64-B flood control projects in 2016 expanded to P590-B in 2024-2025, with the majority of them going to ghost, incomplete, and subpar projects.  

We are told that both the Senate and the House of Representatives will conduct independent investigations on flood control irregularities. But how can they investigate and prosecute their own kind? The relationships between lawmakers and construction companies are profoundly problematic. Their use of political power and financial gain is quite clear, with senators and congressmen profiting from contracts handed to corporations affiliated with them. This is a classic example of a conflict of interest, with public officials prioritizing personal benefit.  

This flood control scandal is more than simply a bureaucratic failure; it is a clear breach of public confidence and a terrible waste of government funds. The frightening facts concerning the distribution of billions of pesos  in projects that have produced little to no benefits call into doubt the integrity of those in command from the Senate, House and the DPWH.

I simply hope that COA chair Gamaliel Cordoba would conduct a thorough investigation of even his own staff, particularly those appointed as COA auditors in all district engineers offices, regional directors offices, and DPWH headquarters. According to my understanding, each DPWH region has a supervisory regional auditor, resident auditors, and audit team members.  Pardon my French, but it is a well-known fact that in corrupt DPWH transactions, even resident COA auditors are included in the “regular 3 or 4 percent” cut from the contract bid cost. This means that anomalous projects can only matrialize if the resident COA auditor’s agrees and gives approval.

Example, how could  MG Samidan Construction and Development Corp., a firm with only P250,000 in paid-up capital, received almost P5.3 billion in flood control contracts ? This is nothing short of disgraceful. How can DPWH officials and resident COA auditors commit such large government contracts to a firm with so low financial resources?  How about Centerways , St.Timothy and the other top 10 flood control contractors ? This raises concerns regarding the bidding process and the possibility of collaboration between contractors and the corrupt DPWH personnel , as well as politicians with the support of conniving COA auditors. 

 Chair Cordoba’s directive requires that all supervisory auditors and audit team leaders in Region 3 immediately deliver pertinent papers for review. This is a crucial step that should be followed in all other locations. Perhaps it was accurate and timely, but it should have been taken much earlier. The fact that a fraud audit was requested and is now judged ‘urgent and unequivocal,’ says eloquently about the DPWH’s current systemic flaws.

There are a total of P590 billion in flood control projects, and this series of probes will undoubtedly expose the disturbing web of corruption involving DPWH undersecretaries, assistant secretaries, district engineers, and regional directors who have colluded with corrupt Congressmen and Senators to insert large sums into the annual budget. 

As President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has stated, it is time to hold individuals accountable who have used their positions for personal benefit. The public deserves openness and justice, and the current fraud investigation is a critical step toward that goal. He must order at once a restricted no holds barred “lifestyle checks” on all DPWH officials from the district engineer all the way up. 

However, it is critical that this is not only a surface exercise. Real penalties must be imposed on individuals found guilty of corruption, who have turned a blind eye to these activities.  The entire nation is watching. It is time to remove this corrupt system and guarantee that public monies are used as intended: to protect and serve the Filipino people.

Digital economy‘s backbone: A strong DICT Sec. Aguda matters more today than ever

In June 2016, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) seemed more like an accessory to the government’s economic goal than a vital pillar. In the past, connection was considered a luxury rather than a need for national prosperity. Then the epidemic made the internet vital. Virtually overnight, work, school, medical consultations, food, and government services moved online.

Digital transformation became the watchword, promised to boost jobs and investment. However, as the talks became louder, the fact remained: talk is cheap, infrastructure is expensive, and implementation is difficult. That is why the DICT is now more important than people realize – and why its current secretary, Henry Aguda, demands deeper scrutiny.

Aguda has declared his tenure is based on Digital Bayanihan, the premise that government, private enterprises, academe, and communities must collaborate to narrow the digital gap. Bayanihan once meant neighbors helping each other relocate, repair, or complete tasks. Aguda’s Digital bayanihan replaces bamboo poles with internet connections, community kitchens with cloud platforms, and local carpenters with cybersecurity experts, but the heart is the same. No one is left behind as everyone works together. Each unit helps to narrow the digital divide.

His vision includes building a country that links the most remote barangays, fuels the rise of domestic tech businesses, and produces millions of digital jobs for a workforce willing to compete on a global scale. In his first 100 days as chief ICT officer, the department activated 18,849 Free Wi-Fi locations, including 6,183 in geographically distant and disadvantaged regions. This year, Aguda stated that the agency intends to complete at least 30,000 Free Wi-Fi locations statewide, nearly doubling the 19,000 stations as of July. In 2026, he hopes to exceed the initial objective of establishing 50,000 Free Wi-Fi hotspots, aiming for up to 70,000 sites to provide connection to as many Filipinos as possible, support domestic tech entrepreneurs, and provides millions of digital jobs for a global workforce.

It sounds simple and easy, yet the effort ahead is enormous.

The government has installed 3,026 kilometers of fiber as part of the National Broadband Program’s Phases 2 and 3. It commemorated the passing of the E-Government Act and the Konektadong Pinoy Act. But there are still 10,000 underserved barangays. And inside are community centers that also require connection, which the United Nations now considers a fundamental human right.

Aguda promises eight million digital jobs by 2028 under the “Trabahong Digital Program that will integrate the digital economy with the national employment initiatives. ” The program’s goal is to deliver connection to all communities in the Philippines, resulting in opportunities in outsourcing, e-commerce, app development, and even government tech services. 

Telecommunications policy improvements are also underway. This path combines physical infrastructure, regulatory power, and digital trust. Aguda, a former telecom executive, stated that there must be “transparency” in the market, citing the necessity for minimum speed requirements as well as pricing regulation. He  wants to force all government agencies and municipal governments to use digital services through the eGov SuperApp, which already holds various government services. The app, which received the United Nations E-Government Award from the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, has over 14 million registered users and has facilitated more than 200 million transactions nationally.

Aguda admits that location and price still prevent households from becoming online. Even with new cables, satellites, and towers, the monthly cost of internet access remains too expensive for many rural Filipinos.

Another issue is the skills gap, which involves training and helping people find and stay digital employment. Cybersecurity is always changing and requires continual awareness. Aguda dared Filipinos: “To the critics: test us.” It felt different. People, trust us. Looking ahead: we’re developing it.”

His comment demonstrates how he wants the DICT to serve the public first and foremost. The DICT now has a place at the table where economic priorities are determined.

Secretary Aguda now talks about employment, entrepreneurship, and inclusivity, not megabits per second. Most importantly, he recognizes that connection is about people as much as towers and cables.