Ex-DPWH engineer tags Villanueva, Estrada, Revilla, Co in ‘flood control mafia’

Former Bulacan DPWH District Engineer Henry Alcantara accused Senators Joel Villanueva and Jinggoy Estrada, former Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co, and DPWH Undersecretary Robert Bernardo of orchestrating budget insertions and kickbacks in flood-control projects, during a Senate blue ribbon committee hearing on Tuesday, September 23.

Alcantara said the system was known as a “flood control mafia” where billions of pesos were diverted yearly from public works funds.

“In 2018, I started receiving instructions from higher-ups in the DPWH central office regarding projects that were not mine, projects of other districts that I needed to accommodate,” Alcantara testified.

He said the instructions came from Undersecretary Bernardo, who dictated which projects would be implemented and who would benefit.

The former engineer also claimed that lawmakers, including Villanueva, Estrada, Revilla, and Co, pressured district engineers to accommodate projects tied to their names and chosen contractors.

“In 2019, one legislator from Bulacan told me, ‘Engineer, you have to accommodate my projects, otherwise, you will be removed,’” Alcantara said.

He added that these projects were designed to guarantee kickbacks, with contractors paying as much as 20 percent of the contract amount in exchange for approval.

“They call it flood control mafia because year in, year out, it’s always flood control projects and the budget keeps on increasing,” Alcantara told senators.

The Commission on Audit (COA) reported that ₱331 billion worth of flood-control projects were implemented from 2017 to 2023, many of which were downloaded to districts even without the capacity to finish them.

“Projects were downloaded even if the district could not implement them on time,” COA Commissioner Roland Anthony Lipana told the panel.

Senator Risa Hontiveros condemned the revelations as proof of systemic corruption.

“The people’s money is being flooded into the pockets of a few, while millions of Filipinos are left to drown in actual floods,” Hontiveros said.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian pressed Alcantara on the role of lawmakers in securing projects for their favored contractors.

“Was it automatic that if you’re close to a congressman, you get the project?” Gatchalian asked.

Alcantara replied, “Yes, that is how it works.”

The Senate blue ribbon committee said Villanueva, Estrada, Revilla, Co, and Bernardo would be summoned to explain their role in the alleged scheme as hearings continue.