In Las Piñas City, several multi-million peso infrastructure projects funded under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) are under scrutiny after residents and barangay officials raised concerns over stalled implementation and the lack of visible progress. Local officials, led by Representative Mark Anthony Santos, have begun investigating 27 projects reportedly awarded to Las Piñas, with a total allocation of ?450.5 million.
Among the listed projects are:
1. ?140 million for the C5 Diversion Road in Barangay Manuyo Dos
2. ?27 million for road improvements in Barangay Talon Singko
3. ?25 million for a multi-purpose building in Pulang Lupa Dos
4. ?18 million for drainage and road works in Talon Kuatro.
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However, reports from multiple barangays indicate that many local leaders are unaware of the projects supposedly underway in their jurisdictions. No construction activity has been observed in most areas, prompting calls for audits and public clarification. In some cases, barangay officials claimed that project plans or coordination from the DPWH were not communicated to their offices.
Cause and Effect
This disconnect between national planning and on-the-ground execution reveals deeper institutional issues. Projects are being funded and listed under national infrastructure programs, yet implementation appears delayed or entirely absent. The lack of coordination raises questions about project oversight, transparency, and accountability—particularly in densely populated and flood-prone areas like Las Piñas.
The issue is compounded by public frustration over recurring flooding in the city, despite prior flood control initiatives. Notably, a river-drive project along the Zapote River, led by a separate initiative, has failed to stop frequent inundations in nearby barangays. Residents have criticized the project for inadequate design, poor drainage integration, and a failure to anticipate downstream effects. Critics argue that rather than standalone riverbank reinforcements, a comprehensive drainage and flood control system is required—one that is integrated across agencies and localities.
Context and Systemic Challenges
Nationally, the DPWH has admitted that the Philippines does not yet have a unified flood control master plan. Instead, the department implements thousands of small-scale, localized mitigation projects. While these efforts are meant to provide immediate relief, they may fall short of long-term solutions, especially as climate impacts intensify.
Furthermore, the Commission on Audit (COA) has flagged over ?216 billion in delayed or suspended DPWH projects nationwide, often due to land acquisition issues, permitting delays, contractor mismanagement, and lack of inter-agency coordination.
Looking Ahead
As inquiries continue, some officials and watchdogs suggest that these problems in Las Piñas may not be isolated. The situation may point to broader inefficiencies in infrastructure governance—where paper budgets are not translating into public benefit.
A working hypothesis, though yet to be proven, is that some projects may have been awarded prematurely—either without finalized engineering plans or without ground-level consultations. Others may have encountered administrative bottlenecks, halting mobilization despite allocated funds. Until full audits are conducted and findings made public, the gap between planned development and community impact remains a critical space for both investigation and reform.
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