MANILA – Billions worth of government projects in Bulacan were deliberately built below standard to free up funds for kickbacks, a former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) official bared before the Senate blue ribbon committee.
Ex-DPWH Bulacan assistant district engineer Brice Ericson Hernandez testified that from 2019 to 2025, nearly every road, flood control structure, school, hospital, and even basic street accessories in the province’s first engineering district was compromised to accommodate commissions for politicians and their allies.
When asked by Sen. Bam Aquino if all projects in the district failed to meet specifications, Hernandez did not mince words: “Opo, hindi po tumatama sa plano na naka-design talaga para dito.”
He detailed a scheme where cheaper materials and reduced project scope became routine.
“Mas mura at mas mababa po ang konkreto na ginagamit. Minsan ginagawa rin po yung pagbabawas ng length, very minimal na lang po. More on quality po talaga ang nawawala,” he said.
According to Hernandez, the corruption started as early as the bidding stage, with project budgets deliberately inflated to ensure a “pool” of money for commissions.
“Kung ano po ‘yung plano na pinagagawa, ‘yun po mismo ang ginagawa namin. Pero ang program po na ibini-bid sa opisina ay mas malaki… para naka-bloated po siya at meron pong pagkukunan ng expenses, gaya po nung proponent,” he added.
Meanwhile, former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan distanced himself from the damning revelations, stressing that oversight of such practices fell under Bureau of Construction Director Allan Borromeo./PN
