The Commission on Audit (COA) has discovered four Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) flood control projects in Bulacan worth ₱344 million that were either non-existent or constructed in incorrect locations.
In its fraud audit report to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), COA cited “systemic irregularities” involving former and incumbent DPWH Bulacan 1st District officials and four contractors.
The projects, located in Baliuag, Balagtas, and Malolos, were awarded to SYMS Construction Trading, M3 Konstract Corp., Elite General Contractor & Development Corp., and Wawao Builders.
“COA’s inspection of these four projects revealed systemic irregularities by the DPWH–Bulacan 1st DEO and its contractors,” the report stated.
Auditors found that inspectors were misled to wrong project sites—some already had existing structures, while others had no construction at all despite being marked “100% complete.”
One site even showed a finished riverbank structure just 22 days after project awarding.
The SYMS Construction project in Baliuag was found non-existent; the M3 Konstract site had defects and cracks; Elite General Contractor’s project was split into two sections instead of one; and Wawao Builders’ structure was only 55 meters long instead of the approved 148.8 meters.
COA has referred the findings to the Office of the Ombudsman for possible graft, malversation, and falsification charges.