SEN. Panfilo Lacson on Monday said at least P3.713 billion in public funds may have been wasted on projects along areas of Laguna Lake in Taguig City that are subject to government action over "illegal" reclamation.
Lacson said the latest findings will be among the pieces of evidence he and his team will send to the Office of the Ombudsman's fact-finding team "for proper disposition."
"Based on official records and our investigation, the total cost of identified completed, ongoing (and suspended) DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways) Flood Control and Multi-Purpose Projects along the ‘illegal’ Laguna Lakeshore Reclamation Areas in Taguig City has so far reached P3.713 billion," Lacson said in a social media post.
"These do not include other anomalous slope protection and flood mitigation projects along Taguig River involving double appropriations and 'ghost' projects using recycled photographs in different 'completed' projects, for billing purposes," he added.
Citing official records and his team's investigation, Lacson said five contractors were involved in projects covering P2.372 billion. These were Dahl Construction: P858.22 million covering five solo projects worth P571.5 million and four joint ventures totaling P286.7 million; J.C. Uyecio: P483.1 million covering four joint ventures; Toughbuilt: P434.2 million covering three solo projects; Topnotch: P329.9 million covering two joint ventures with Core Check and one with Beam Team; and GR Fervidal: P266.6 million covering five solo multipurpose building projects.
Reclamation work suspended
The Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) has ordered the immediate suspension of DPWH projects in Laguna de Bay that may involve unauthorized reclamation, triggering a review of infrastructure works in one of the country’s most critical natural flood catch basins.
Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon responded by directing the DPWH Metro Manila 1st District Engineering Office to immediately cease work on projects covered by the PRA directive.
The move followed the PRA’s Aug. 17, 2026 letter to Dizon ordering the DPWH to stop all unauthorized reclamation and infrastructure projects with reclamation components within the Laguna de Bay area.
The PRA said its order covers activities such as filling, dumping or depositing soil, rocks, dredged materials and other construction materials into the lake; building embankments; creating additional land; and converting submerged areas that may effectively result in reclamation.
The agency said such activities require the appropriate reclamation approval, authority, clearance, environmental compliance and other government authorizations.
Under its mandate, the PRA said reclamation projects and reclamation components of infrastructure and development projects — whether undertaken by national government agencies, government corporations, local governments or private proponents — are subject to regulatory review and approval.
Lacson had said PRA officials had told him and his staff that all unpermitted reclaimed areas in Taguig City, whether belonging to the local government or to private individuals, are subject to forfeiture in favor of the national government.
On Saturday, Lacson said at least four parcels of illegally reclaimed land in Taguig City had been initially identified as covered by "fraudulently" issued land titles while at least four other parcels have no plotted title lots in the Land Registration Authority's (LRA) digital file.
Not fake news
The disclosure came amid insinuations that Lacson's earlier findings on the illegal reclamation activities were "fake news."
"Since Sen. (Alan Peter) Cayetano keeps publicly asking for evidence, I’ll give it to him, in the spirit of public interest," Lacson said in a social media post.
In response, Cayetano said the government stands to gain if allegations of illegally titled properties along Laguna Lake in Taguig City are proven true, as authorities continue to scrutinize the questioned land titles.
Speaking at the 44th anniversary of Mandaport Apostolic Pentecostals (MAP) Church on Sunday, Cayetano said the roughly 18-hectare property could ultimately benefit the government if the allegation surrounding its title is established.
"There was someone in the newspaper yesterday who (said that there were) 181,000 square meters or 18 hectares that were ‘illegally titled.’ On the one hand, we also hope that it is true. Why? Because if it is truly illegal, it [will go] to the government, because we now have 18 hectares for the government," he said.
Cayetano also welcomed the scrutiny of land titles in the area, noting that his wife, Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano, had long wanted the properties examined.
"Just like now, when they want to examine all the land titles — Lani has wanted that for a long time," the senator said.
