At least P3.713 billion in public funds may have been wasted on projects along areas of Laguna Lake in Taguig City that are subject to government action over “illegal” reclamation, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson disclosed on Monday.
“WASTED PUBLIC FUNDS DUE TO MISUSE: Based on official records and our investigation, the total cost of Identified completed, ongoing (and suspended) DPWH Flood Control and Multi-Purpose Projects along the ‘illegal’ Laguna Lakeshore Reclamation Areas in Taguig City has so far reached ₱3.713 billion,” Lacson said in a post on X.
“These do not include other anomalous Slope Protection and Flood Mitigation projects along Taguig River involving double appropriations and ‘ghost’ projects using recycled photographs in different ‘completed’ projects, for billing purposes,” he added.
Lacson said the latest findings will be among the pieces of evidence he and his team will send to the Office of the Ombudsman’s fact-finding team “for proper disposition.”
Citing official records and his and his team’s investigation, Lacson said the top five contractors involved in projects covering P2.372 billion include:
1) Dahl Construction: ₱858.22 million covering five solo projects worth P571.5 million and four joint ventures totaling ₱286.7 million;
2) J.C. Uyecio: ₱483.1 million covering four joint ventures;
3) Toughbuilt: ₱434.2 million covering three solo projects;
4) Topnotch: ₱329.9 Million covering two joint ventures with Core Check and one with Beam Team; and
5) GR Fervidal: ₱266.6 Million covering five solo multi-purpose building projects
All of the multipurpose building projects of GR Fervidal were suspended due to a “revision of plans” involving soil re-investigation, Lacson said.
Earlier, Lacson said Department of Public Works and Highways Sec. Vince Dizon “guaranteed” him that the DPWH would immediately issue cease-and-desist orders on projects linked to the illegal reclamation once he receives the appropriate requests from the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA), to prevent further waste of government funds on contractors carrying out unauthorized or illegal activities.
Dizon was quoted in reports as saying on Sunday that the DPWH has already issued the cease-and-desist orders, following a directive from the Office of the President coursed through the PRA.
Lacson also said PRA officials had told him and his staff that all unpermitted reclaimed areas in Taguig City, whether belonging to the local government or to private individuals, are subject to forfeiture in favor of the national government.
On Saturday, Lacson disclosed that at least four parcels of illegally reclaimed land in Taguig City had been initially identified as covered by “fraudulently” issued land titles while at least four other parcels have no plotted title lots in the Land Registration Authority (LRA)’s digital file.
The disclosure came amid insinuations that Lacson’s earlier findings on the illegal reclamation activities were “fake news.”
