MANILA — Former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Assistant District Engineer Brice Hernandez admitted that all infrastructure projects in Bulacan from 2019 to the present were substandard due to corruption.

The admission came during a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on anomalous flood control projects, where Senator Bam Aquino questioned Hernandez about the quality of DPWH projects in the province.

“We’re investigating flood control, ngayon inaamin lahat ng proyekto, pati classroom, pati hospital, pati tulay, pati kalsada, lahat substandard,” Aquino said.

“Yes po, your honor,” Hernandez replied, adding that even streetlights were overpriced.

Hernandez said the projects were intentionally made substandard to meet obligations to officials and personalities who demanded a cut from project budgets.

“May plano ang DPWH, mayroong budget iyan. Pero dahil iyong budget pinaghahati-hatian niyo, sa dulo walang project na maayos na dumaan sa inyo,” Aquino asked Hernandez, who confirmed the claim.

Hernandez also admitted that from 2019 to 2025, infrastructure projects in Bulacan failed to meet specifications and were mired in corruption.

“Wala pong tumama kung ano iyong naka-specify sa plano. Hindi po na-meet lahat iyon,” Hernandez told Aquino.

When asked if all projects had a percentage cut diverted to officials, Hernandez responded, “lahat po, your honor.”