MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Audit (CoA) has filed four fraud audit reports before the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) in connection with flood control projects in Bulacan province worth over P325 million.
The projects were implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office, CoA said.
Three of these were linked to Wawao Builders.
One of these three projects was for the construction of a riverbank protection structure in Guiguinto. The total contract cost was P96,499,302.69.
"COA found that the riverbank protection structure was not constructed at the location specified in the approved Detailed Engineering Design (DED) plans. Instead, the project appeared to have been relocated without authority," CoA said. "Moreover, discrepancies were noted between the approved and as-built plans, including a reduction in project length and altered cross-sections, casting doubt on the validity of the reported accomplishments," it said.
One of the three projects was for the construction of a riverbank protection structure in Hagonoy. The total contract cost was P77,197,558.67.
"COA found no riverbank protection structure at the designated project site, despite the project being declared 100% complete," the agency said. An identified structure "was located approximately 694 meters away from the approved site and lacked any approved revised plans or authority for relocation. Any payments made under this contract were deemed potentially invalid,” it added.
One of the projects, the construction of a riverbank protection structure in Calumpit, had a contract cost of P77,199,226.37.
However, COA said it found multiple inconsistencies in project location and length, including a structure bearing a different contract ID marking and measurements that did not match the approved bid and as-built plans. An identified structure "was outside the approved site, and the declared 100% completion was questionable, potentially invalidating any related payments," it said.
Another project, the construction of a river bank protection structure in Malolos, was linked to Darcy and Anna Builders & Trading. The total contract cost was P74,120,639.56.
"COA confirmed that no structure was built at the approved project site," CoA said. An identified structure "predated the contract by nearly a year, according to satellite imagery." CoA also said that "progress photos submitted by the contractor bore embedded coordinates inconsistent with the approved project location, raising concerns of possible misrepresentation."
The commission said the fraud audit is part of a broader investigation ordered by COA Chairman Gamaliel Cordoba. It added that additional reports will be submitted as the investigation progresses.
