Manuel Bonoan, DPWH Chief, Releases Order on Employees’ ‘Personal Travel’
DPWH – Public Works Chief Manuel Bonoan ordered the temporary suspension of application for ‘personal travel’ of personnel amid the probe on the anomalous flood control projects.
The Department of Public Works and Highways is currently the center of controversy after several ‘ghost’ and substandard flood control projects in the different areas across the nation have been exposed. President Bongbong Marcos was left disappointed by a flood control project in Bulacan that he even called out the contractor to explain what happened.
According to Marcos Jr., the said flood control project was incomplete. They also hired divers to check on the structure and it was found that the structure was made of “substandard” materials. The President stressed that the cement was too thin, thus, the structure failed to serve its purpose.
Pres. Bongbong Marcos called out the St. Timothy Construction which was the contractor of the said flood control project. The said firm was one of the 15 contractors previously flagged by the Chief Executive which received 20% of the P545-billion worth flood control projects in the country from July 2022 to May 2025.
- Legacy Construction Corporation
- Alpha & Omega Gen. Contractor & Development Corp.
- St. Timothy Construction Corporation
- QM Builders
- EGB Construction Corporation
- Topnotch Catalyst Builders Inc.
- Centerways Construction and Development Inc.
- Sunwest, Inc.
- Hi-Tone Construction & Development Corp.
- Triple 8 Construction & Supply, Inc.
- Royal Crown Monarch Construction & Supplies Corp.
- Wawao Builders
- MG Samidan Construction
- L.R. Tiqui Builders, Inc.
- Road Edge Trading & Development Services
During a press conference, Marcos Jr. stressed that the country spending over P500 billion for the flood control projects is “enormous”. He also name-dropped the contractors that were awarded with government flood control deals in almost all regions across the nation and assured that they will be investigated:
- Legacy Construction Corporation
- Alpha & Omega Gen. Contractor & Development Corp.
- St. Timothy Construction Corporation
- EGB Construction Corporation
- Road Edge Trading & Development Services
In Bulacan, the President was also left angry by the P55-million ‘ghost’ Riverwall project. It was reportedly marked completed and fully-paid but there was no structure when he arrived at the place. DPWH Manuel Bonoan previously confirmed that 10 officials in their Bulacan district are under “floating status” now and were ordered to explain.
The Senate also launched its own probe on the anomalous flood control projects in the country. Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero even signed all the subpoenas ordering the following contractors to attend the next Senate flood probe after several contractors ditched the first hearing:
- Mr. Luisito R. Tiqui, President of L.R. Tiqui Builders, Inc.
- Ms. Cezarah C. Discaya, President of Alpha and Omega Gen. Contractor & Development Corporation
- Mr. Lawrence R. Lubiano, President of Centerways Construction and Development Inc.
- Mr. Edgar S. Acosta, President of Hi-Tone Construction & Development Corp.
- Ms. Marjorie O. Samidan, authorized managing officer of MG Samidan Construction
- Mr. Romeo C. Miranda, President of Royal Crown Monarch Construction & Supplies Corp.
- Ms. Ma. Roma Angeline D. Rimando. President of St. Timothy Construction Corporation
- Ms. Aderma Angelie D. Alcazar, President/CEO of Sunwest, Inc.
- Mr. Eumir S. Villanueva, President of Topnotch Catalyst Builders Inc.
- Mr. Mark Allan V. Arevalo, General Manager of Wawao Builders
Amid the investigation on the anomalous flood control projects, based on a report on Inquirer, DPWH chief Manuel Bonoan ordered the temporary suspension of all applications of employees for an authority for a ‘personal travel’ abroad. The memorandum released was part of the department’s commitment to integrity, accountability, and transparency.
“Approval of all applications for Authority to Travel abroad for personal reasons [is] hereby temporarily suspended except for personal travel for urgent medical reasons, effective immediately until the end of November 2025 or unless circumstances warrant earlier lifting of the suspension or further extension,” the memorandum signed by DPWH Chief reads.
Based on the report, the DPWH Secretary stressed that the order is in accordance with the Civil Service Commission’s Omnibus Rules on Leave stating that a personal travel of a government employee is “discretionary and not automatic”. Meanwhile, there is an exemption from the order with regards to personal travel for urgent medical reasons.
Amid the flood control projects issue, Pres. Bongbong Marcos ordered “lifestyle check” among all government officials to start with the DPWH officials.