MANILA – Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan vowed to file charges and impose sanctions against Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials implicated in substandard or “ghost” flood control projects in Bulacan, even as pressure mounts on him to resign over the controversy.
In a radio interview, Bonoan confirmed that projects in Bulacan’s First Engineering District are now under probe, stressing that a “cleansing” within the agency may be unavoidable.
“Titingnan namin kung sino ‘yung mga kasangkot dito sa paggawa ng mga inferior at saka ghost projects,” Bonoan said on Super Radyo DZBB.
“I think we’ll have to file all the necessary cases, sanctions din and let it be a lesson to everybody that we will not allow this kind of thing to happen. I think we have to cleanse up actually the organization kung kailangan,” he added.
The secretary revealed that District Engineer Henry Alcantara has been placed on floating status while awaiting explanation over his role. He earlier told the Senate blue ribbon committee that a single contractor had cornered 85 projects worth P5.97 billion in the district.
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., who has been personally inspecting flood control projects following reports of anomalies, admitted he was “very angry” over the irregularities.
Some senators, including Sherwin Gatchalian, have urged Bonoan to step down “out of delicadeza,” but the DPWH chief said the decision lies with the President.
Despite the scandal, Bonoan defended his personnel, saying the majority remain competent and committed to their duties.
“Kayang i-manage,” he said. “I think, ‘yung mga tao namin are very professional naman.”/PN
