MANILA — Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon on Monday introduced new leadership for the DPWH Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office, which has been under scrutiny over alleged irregularities in flood control projects.
Kenneth Fernando was appointed as officer-in-charge district engineer, while Paul Gumabas will serve as assistant district engineer. Retired Army General Rommel Tello was named regional director of DPWH Central Luzon.
Dizon warned the new officials against engaging in corrupt practices and stressed the urgent need to provide solutions for residents of Bulacan, who endure recurring floods for nearly half the year.
“Our people in Bulacan need solutions. Yes, they want accountability, but they also need solutions because they are suffering every day, practically six months a year due to recurring floods,” Dizon said. “Do not imitate your predecessors.”
The Commission on Audit (COA) previously filed four Fraud Audit Reports (FARs) with the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), highlighting what it described as “rampant irregularities” in Bulacan flood control projects totaling P297 million.
COA noted that all four questioned projects were implemented by the DPWH Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office. Former district engineers Henry Alcantara, Brice Ericson Hernandez, and Jaypee Mendoza, identified as key figures in an alleged kickback scheme, were involved in all four projects cited in the latest FARs.