MANILA — Senators questioned Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials over how infrastructure projects are identified and prioritized, as well as the agency’s slow completion of public school classrooms, during a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing.

Sen. Bam Aquino pressed former DPWH Undersecretary Emil Sadain Bernardo to clarify whether lawmakers were being approached by contractors and DPWH personnel offering projects, contrary to the usual practice of local governments lobbying for needed infrastructure.

Aquino noted that based on Bernardo’s affidavit, “parang kayo po, ang DPWH at iyong contractor, iyong nagbibigay o nagsa-suggest ng mga proyekto sa mga lawmakers.” Bernardo responded that proposals usually originate from local officials and Regional Development Councils (RDCs), but acknowledged that requests may also come through DPWH officials, lawmakers, or contractors.

Aquino questioned whether this contributed to the mismatch between public needs and actual projects built, citing flood control structures in areas without flooding and schools left unfinished. He also flagged DPWH’s performance, saying only 22 out of 1,700 classrooms were completed as of October 2025. “Nagtataka ako bakit yung imprastruktura parang hindi siya tumutugma,” he said.

Bernardo said he did not believe only 22 classrooms had been completed, but attributed delays to late fund releases and the longer construction time needed for buildings. He added that DPWH completes projects based on duration and complexity, noting that roads are often faster to finish than school buildings.

When asked whether projects with higher potential kickbacks were being prioritized over essential but low-profit infrastructure like classrooms, Bernardo said, “Sa akin pong opinyon, hindi po iyon ganun.”

Aquino then turned to the prioritization process within DPWH, with Bernardo explaining that districts may identify 30% of projects as “local,” while 70% falls under “allocable” projects such as national roads, bridges, and flood control. He added that RDC recommendations are consolidated into a “wishlist,” which the central office evaluates.

DPWH Engineer Danilo Alcantara disclosed that in recent years, projects endorsed directly by lawmakers and other proponents have grown significantly compared to those coming from the RDC process. He said the shift began around 2023. “Na mas malaki yung galing sa mga proponent kaysa sa RDC?” Aquino asked. Alcantara replied, “Yes, Your Honor.”

The hearing also tackled transparency measures within DPWH. Undersecretary Roberto Bisnar said the agency would launch its transparency portal “definitely within a month’s time,” containing contract information for all districts. “That’s correct, Your Honor,” Bisnar confirmed when asked if all government contracts would be publicly accessible.

During the latter part of the hearing, Senator Aquino asked for updates on investigations into alleged flood control irregularities. Department of Justice (DOJ) Prosecutor General Benedicto Fadullon said five cases were undergoing preliminary investigation starting that day, with expected resolutions by mid-December.

Fadullon explained that while many names surfaced during Senate hearings, cases require sufficient evidence before charges can be filed. “Kailangan po kayang i-corroborate,” he said, adding that the DOJ is validating testimonies and gathering supporting documents.

He confirmed that more cases are being evaluated, not limited to DPWH officials but also “proponents.” As public frustration grows amid slow progress, Fadullon said the DOJ could seek precautionary hold departure orders for individuals under investigation.

Aquino reminded officials of public expectations for accountability. “Siguro po napansin po nila na malungkot ang Christmas ng mga tao… iyong isa ring hinahanap ng tao, hustisya,” he said.

Fadullon assured the panel that resolutions to the pending cases — and the filing of additional cases — will be completed before year-end. “Titiyakin po namin… na maresolba,” he said.