Negros Island Region (NIR) Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials met with Mayor Renato Gustilo on Thursday, August 21, to gather information on non-existent flood control projects in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, which he exposed.
Engineer Juan Alfonso Jorbina, head of the DPWH 5th Engineering District in San Carlos City, said they verified the information on orders from NIR DPWH Regional Director Denise Maria M. Ayag.
On Monday, Gustilo said his signature was forged on documents claiming that three flood control projects worth P306.4 million were allegedly constructed in San Carlos from 2023 to 2024. The mayor has since requested a National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) probe.
The mayor said there are no existing records of flood control projects at Andoon River, Jigalaman River, and Palampas River in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, by contractors A.P.O. General Construction of Saliok, Mountain Province; E.K.C. Construction and Aggregates of La Trinidad, Benguet; and Jaben General Contracting & Engineering Services of Baguio City, Benguet.
Jorbina said he also confirmed to the DPWH NIR group that the three contractors had no flood control projects in San Carlos. He added that his Assistant District Engineer, Pedrito Bautista, has gone to the DPWH Central Office to get an update on the claims of the three contractors.
Jorbina said the three contractors upgraded their PCAB (Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board) License. In this process, some contractors are asked to submit their completed and ongoing projects, and their lists included their so-called projects in San Carlos.
Gustilo said he learned of the anomalous projects when Ma. Victoria S. Gregorio, DPWH Central Office Director IV for Procurement Service, sent him letters on different dates requesting confirmation on the authenticity of documents connected to the three flood control projects, which turned out to be non-existent.*