Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon has dismissed officials involved in anomalous flood control projects in Bulacan, acting swiftly on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to “clean up” the agency amid issues of ghost and substandard projects.
On Thursday, September 4, 2025, Secretary Dizon confirmed the removal of suspended DPWH Bulacan 1st District Engineer Henry C. Alcantara following his inspection of a “ghost project” in Barangay Sipat, Plaridel. The ₱96.5-million flood control project along the Angat River, Sipat section, was declared complete in June 2025, but Dizon discovered it had only been under construction for three weeks, manned by hired laborers.
“Mga hayop ang gumawa nito, hindi sila tao, para gawin nila ito sa mga kababayan natin. And believe me, itong mga hayop na ito makukulong,” Dizon stressed.
Perpetual Blacklisting
He announced the perpetual blacklisting of Wawao Builders, the project’s contractor, along with other firms such as Syms Construction Trading previously linked to ghost projects. Suspended Assistant District Engineer Brice Ericson Hernandez and former Construction Section head Engr. Jaypee Mendoza of the DPWH Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office will also be dismissed.
Dizon emphasized that this marks the beginning of a broader cleanup of the department and the perpetual disqualification of erring contractors.
“The President has repeatedly said – and this was his clear marching orders to me – that we must not allow this to happen anymore, and to hold people who have done this to account,” he added.
