Davao City, Philippines — Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince B. Dizon has issued separate show-cause orders against the Regional Director of DPWH Regional Office XI and the District Engineer of Davao Occidental following the discovery of an unfinished ₱96.5-million flood control project in Jose Abad Santos town, Davao Occidental—despite being declared completed and fully paid for in 2022.
The project in question, the Culaman Bridge Flood Control Project, was inspected on September 25, 2025, by Dizon together with Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) Special Adviser and Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, and Davao Occidental OIC District Engineer Rodrigo C. Larete. The inspection revealed that construction only began two to three weeks prior, contrary to government records stating that the project had been completed three years ago.
Local residents and the barangay captain confirmed that no significant work had been done on the flood control structure until recently.
Dizon said the findings raise serious concerns over possible violations of laws and civil service rules, including grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty, serious dishonesty, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of service.
The show-cause order directed Regional Director Juby B. Cordon to explain within five days why she should not be held administratively liable, given her supervisory authority over the Davao Occidental District Engineering Office. Similarly, District Engineer Rodrigo C. Larete was ordered to submit a sworn explanation within the same period as to why no administrative case should be filed against him.
Dizon emphasized that the government, under the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., is determined to hold officials accountable for “ghost projects” that waste taxpayer money and deprive communities of much-needed infrastructure.
Failure of the officials to respond within the given timeframe, according to the memorandum, will be considered a waiver of their right to explain, and the matter will be resolved based on available records and evidence.
The Culaman Bridge Flood Control Project was contracted to St. Timothy Construction Company, which received full payment despite the absence of completed work until this year.