Senator Risa Hontiveros has sounded the alarm over flood control projects in Quezon City that appear to exist only on paper, raising serious questions about transparency and accountability in Metro Manila’s infrastructure programs.

According to Hontiveros, investigations into the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Quezon City 2nd District Engineering Office revealed projects that showed minimal physical progress, with work limited to superficial cosmetic fixes such as freshly painted sidewalks.

The projects under scrutiny, reportedly managed by JJPR Construction, are:

• Rehabilitation of Drainage System, Barangay Tatalon, Quezon City – PHP 48 million

• Rehabilitation of Drainage System, Barangay South Triangle, Quezon City – PHP 70 million

“Ayon sa site inspection report ng engineering office ng Quezon City, ‘yong dapat hinukay at reinforced concrete pipes sa dalawang projects na ‘yan. Wala QC eng. na ang nagsabi hindi ginawa. Pininturahan lang ang sidewalk, pinalitan lang ang cover, tapos na,” Hontiveros said, emphasizing that critical drainage work — including excavation and installation of reinforced concrete pipes — was allegedly neglected.

The projects had been approved by Engineer Johnny Protesta. When questioned about their status, Protesta defended the works, citing funding and maintenance issues:

“Sa loob po ng tatlong taon, wala pong pondo ‘yong maintenance. Core program po ng public works and highways ‘yong maintenance ng ating drainage system.”

Hontiveros pressed further, questioning the high costs relative to the minimal work done:

“Sir, kung manholes lang, declogging, grating aabot ba ng 24 million pesos doon sa Tatalon? Aabot ba ng 74 million pesos sa South Triangle?”

Protesta responded that project costs were justified through detailed documentation:

“Your honor, meron naman pong ‘DUPA’ [detailed unit price analysis]. Na-inspection naman po ng inspection team. Then nagpapaconduct naman kami within one year warranty, lagi po kaming may regular na one year defects liability period.”

He added that projects flagged for issues are redone under warranty.

Hontiveros also questioned whether these projects were part of over PHP 300 million worth of DPWH initiatives allegedly implemented without coordination with the Quezon City Hall:

“Ito bang dalawang rehabilitation of drainage system projects ay kasama sa more than 300 million projects na nireklamo ni Mayor Joy Belmonte na hindi man lang kinoordinate sa Quezon City Hall?”

Protesta admitted lapses in coordination, stating: “Actually ‘yon po yung pagkakamali ng district offices, talagang sa coordination. Kaya po hindi nagkakaparehas ‘yong halimbawa scope of work na akala ng LGU is included ‘yong RCCP kasi hindi nga rin po namin nacoordinate. ‘Yon po ‘yung pagkakamali [namin].”

The controversy deepened when Hontiveros raised allegations of potential payments made by contractors to DPWH engineers:

“Engr. Protesta, inamin na rin ng mga Discaya na may binayaran sila sa QC at pinangalanan po nila sina DE Loid, DE Devanadera, at DE Protesta, ano pong comment n’yo dyan?”

Protesta denied any wrongdoing, claiming that most contracts were awarded to a winning bidder:

“Actually, wala pong binabayaran si sir curlee. Kung mapapansin nyo po sa district namin is halos marami po silang kontrata. Hindi ko po alam bakit po nasabi ni sir curlee [iyon]. Majority po ng contract ng district ay naka’y sir curlee, siya po ang nananalong winning bidder.”