The DPWH in Bulacan has fired district engineer Henry Alcantara and three of his colleagues after the ghost flood control project in Plaridel was exposed. Secretary Vince Dizon was disgusted to see the project approved but construction has not yet begun.
Two other district engineers, Brice Ericson Hernandez and Jaypee Mendoza, will also undergo the dismissal process. He said criminal charges have been recommended against them and will be submitted to the Ombudsman next week.
The project contractor, Wawao Builders, with a revised contract of P96,499,992.10, has been placed on perpetual blacklisting. Its affiliate companies are also likely to be blacklisted. Another contractor, SYMS Construction Trading, will also be blacklisted for a non-existent flood project.
In the Senate, five contractors and three DPWH officials were asked to appear in a hearing to explain the ghost and substandard flood projects in Bulacan and Oriental Mindoro. The Justice Secretary also advised them not to leave the country while they are being investigated.
The NBI has also begun investigating other flood projects in areas visited by President Marcos to ensure that there are no anomalies in the projects.
