Contractors Silenced, Projects Stolen: Lacson Sounds Alarm on DPWH Corruption

Manila, Philippines - Senator Panfilo Lacson has revealed a disturbing practice at the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), where some district engineers allegedly seize projects from winning contractors so they can pocket the profits themselves.

According to Lacson, he has “case studies” in hand and is ready to disclose them in the Senate during his privilege speech.

“There are contractors who win the bidding, but they’re not the ones doing the work. The district engineer takes over—‘I’ll do it myself but in your name.’ Of course, the contractor gets scared because they might not be given projects in the future,” Lacson said.

The senator added that many of these district engineers also own their own construction companies, so they earn big when they take control of the projects.

After President Bongbong Marcos Jr. declared in his SONA a war against corruption in flood control projects, district engineers allegedly panicked—but contractors suffer because the projects are still under their names.

“The contractor takes the hit because it’s under his name,” Lacson stressed.

This “project grabbing” isn’t the only scheme. The senator also revealed the existence of ghost projects that were funded for two years but never implemented. In the third year, they were given funds again in the 2025 budget, and only then will work begin.

“Two years ghost, third year they start it just to cover it up,” Lacson said.

In addition, substandard projects are rampant in order to cut costs. “If the excavation should be 150 feet deep, they only make it 50 to save money,” the senator added.