Bulacan district engineer dismissed from DPWH

DTI accepts resignation of PCAB exec

- RAINIER ALLAN RONDA

Disgusted by the apparent ghost flood control project he inspected in Plaridel, Bulacan yesterday, Secretary Vince Dizon of the Department of Public Works and Highways announced that he has ordered the dismissal from service of suspended DPWH regional director Henry Alcantara.

Dizon said two other district engineers in the Bulacan office—Brice Ericson Hernandez and Jaypee Mendoza—would also be fired from the DPWH.

"Today, I'm going to announce, Henry Alcantara effective today is dismissed from the (service). He's suspended. OK, he's now dismissed. I will call for a summary dismissal," Dizon said.

He said appropriate criminal charges, to be recommended by the DPWH legal team, would be filed next week.

"We will recommend the filing of charges with the ombudsman. Brice Hernandez, Jaypee Mendoza, I will already begin proceedings of dismissal," Dizon said.

"We have a due process in doing that. We have to follow it, but we will start that process already and I will not be surprised if they are also dismissed very, very soon," Dizon said.

"This is criminal," Dizon said upon checking out the ghost flood control project in Angat River in Barangay Sipat in Plaridel, Bulacan, which had been approved for payment by the DPWH regional and district engineers.

DPWH records showed that the project contractor was Wawao Builders, with a revised contract price of P96,499,992.10.

The notice to proceed for the project was dated March 20, 2024. It was reportedly completed on June 11, 2024 and paid on July 21, 2024.

But upon inspection, Dizon said the construction of the project started only three weeks ago.

Perpetually blacklisted

"Finally, I will also order the perpetual lifetime blacklisting of Wawao Builders from DPWH, and all their possible affiliates," Dizon told reporters during his inspection of the dike construction project in Plaridel.