DPWH Sec. Dizon slams unfinished flood control project in Davao Occidental

• DPWH Sec. Vince Dizon scolded officials during his inspection of the unfinished Culaman Bridge flood control project in Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental
• District Engineer Rodrigo Larete admitted that St. Timothy Construction Company, owned by the Discaya family, was fully paid despite no construction work being done
• Dizon stressed the delays put students and residents at risk, especially during flooding and heavy rains
• The DPWH chief vowed to enforce stricter oversight, ensure transparency, and hold negligent officials and contractors accountable

Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon made an angry remark in one of his inspections of flood control projects.

“Hindi ka na naawa doon sa mga estudyante diyan, saka [sa] mga tao rito? Hindi mo ba sila inisip?”

This was the angry remark of during his inspection of the flood control project at Culaman Bridge in Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental.

The project, which was funded and initiated under the previous administration, remains incomplete up to this day.

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Dizon’s frustration stemmed from the revelation that the assigned District Engineer, Rodrigo Larete, admitted the construction firm St. Timothy Construction Company had already been fully paid despite failing to start any actual work.

The company, owned by the Discaya family, was declared the winning bidder, but no visible progress on the structure has been made.

The DPWH chief expressed disappointment, emphasizing how delays in essential projects like flood control endanger communities, particularly students and residents who rely on the bridge for safe passage.

He warned that negligence and irregularities of this kind will not be tolerated under his leadership.

The case adds to the growing list of questionable infrastructure projects flagged in recent months.

Just weeks ago, Senate hearings exposed similar anomalies in Bulacan’s flood control initiatives, where millions were allegedly funneled to bogus contractors.

Dizon vowed to hold accountable those responsible and push for reforms in the bidding and monitoring process of DPWH projects.

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He added that stricter oversight and transparency measures will be implemented to prevent contractors from being paid without delivering on their obligations.

Residents of Jose Abad Santos, meanwhile, are urging swift action, stressing that every rainy season poses risks of flooding due to the unfinished project.

News, photos, or videos that arouse the interest of netizens would often go viral on social media, due to the attention netizens give them. These viral posts appeal to the emotions of netizens, and in rare cases, this could also happen to ordinary people, making them very relatable stories for all of the ordinary people in the country as today. These stories usually affect the daily lives of the ordinary citizens.

In other news, contractors Pacifico “Curlee” and Sarah Discaya went to the DOJ to seek inclusion in the Witness Protection Program (WPP). Curlee, detained by the Senate for contempt, presented his affidavit for review by Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla. The couple offered to name lawmakers, staff, and DPWH officials allegedly tied to flood control corruption but must return ill-gotten wealth first. DOJ stressed that WPP protection is a privilege, warning that false testimony could lead to perjury charges or detention.

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Meanwhile, “The Clash” 2025 winner Jong Madaliday turned emotional after watching his mother’s heartfelt video message on "Fast Talk with Boy Abunda." Jong revealed it was his mother who convinced him to join the competition again despite his self-doubts. He first competed in 2018’s Season 1 as runner-up before finally becoming champion this year. Jong thanked his mother for being his source of strength, saying she was the only one who never lost faith in him.

Source: KAMI.com.gh