DPWH Faces Clerical Error Amid Corruption Issue
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Metro Manila 3rd District clarified a viral issue involving a road and drainage project in Valenzuela City.
A photo circulating online showed the project cost reduced from ₱48 million to ₱28 million, sparking public concern. DPWH confirmed that the actual amount is ₱28,884,243.84, explaining that the ₱48 million figure on the billboard was a clerical error and will be corrected immediately.
“It is being informed that the original contract cost of the said project is P28,884,243.84 only,” the DPWH stated. “It is being assured that the posted erroneous detail in the DPWH Project Billboard at the site is purely clerical mistake and will be corrected accordingly,” the statement added.
This clarification comes as the DPWH faces a much larger corruption scandal. In July 2025, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. reported over 5,500 completed flood control projects and announced ten more worth ₱500 billion to be implemented over the next 13 years.
By August 2025, allegations of irregularities began to surface. The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee launched the “Philippines Under Water” probe to investigate these claims. Meanwhile, the Commission on Audit (COA) ordered a fraud audit in Bulacan after receiving public complaints. Some projects were found to lack proper permits, while others marked as “completed” were discovered to still be under construction.
At the end of August, DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan resigned amid the growing controversy. President Marcos then appointed Vince Dizon as acting secretary. Dizon immediately asked top DPWH officials to submit courtesy resignations and suspended questionable projects, including those in Oriental Mindoro where substandard materials were discovered.
In September 2025, contractors Sarah and Pacifico Discaya testified in Senate hearings that 17 lawmakers and several DPWH officials demanded 25% kickbacks from project funds. Following this testimony, President Marcos created an independent commission to investigate the scandal and vowed that “no one will be spared.” He also announced that all 2026 flood control projects would be canceled, with the funds redirected to education, health, and agriculture.