MANILA—At least P3.713 billion in public funds may have been wasted on completed, ongoing and suspended Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) projects located along areas of Laguna Lake in Taguig City that are being subjected to government action over allegedly illegal reclamation, Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said Monday.

Lacson said the figure was based on official records and an investigation conducted by his team into flood control and multipurpose projects in the affected areas.

“WASTED PUBLIC FUNDS DUE TO MISUSE: Based on official records and our investigation, the total cost of Identified completed, ongoing (and suspended) DPWH Flood Control and Multi-Purpose Projects along the ‘illegal’ Laguna Lakeshore Reclamation Areas in Taguig City has so far reached ₱3.713 billion,” Lacson said.

He said the amount does not yet include other projects along the Taguig River that his team flagged for possible anomalies.

“These do not include other anomalous Slope Protection and Flood Mitigation projects along Taguig River involving double appropriations and ‘ghost’ projects using recycled photographs in different ‘completed’ projects, for billing purposes,” he added.

Lacson said the latest findings would be included among the evidence that he and his team plan to submit to the Office of the Ombudsman’s fact-finding team for appropriate action.

Among the contractors identified in projects worth a combined P2.372 billion are Dahl Construction, J.C. Uyecio, Toughbuilt, Topnotch and GR Fervidal.

Dahl Construction accounted for P858.22 million through five solo projects worth P571.5 million and four joint ventures worth P286.7 million.

J.C. Uyecio was involved in four joint ventures amounting to P483.1 million, while Toughbuilt handled three solo projects worth P434.2 million.

Topnotch was involved in two joint ventures with Core Check and another with Beam Team, with the projects totaling P329.9 million.

GR Fervidal accounted for P266.6 million through five solo multipurpose building projects.

According to Lacson, all of GR Fervidal’s multipurpose building projects were suspended because of a “revision of plans” involving soil re-investigation.

The senator earlier said DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon had “guaranteed” that the department would immediately issue cease-and-desist orders against projects connected to the allegedly illegal reclamation once the appropriate requests were received from the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA).

The move, Lacson said, was intended to prevent additional government funds from being spent on contractors involved in unauthorized or illegal activities.

Reports quoted Dizon on Sunday as saying the DPWH had already issued the cease-and-desist orders following a directive from the Office of the President coursed through the PRA.

Lacson also said PRA officials informed him and his staff that all unpermitted reclaimed areas in Taguig, whether under the local government or private ownership, are subject to forfeiture in favor of the national government.

The latest disclosure follows Lacson’s announcement on Saturday that at least four parcels of allegedly illegally reclaimed land in Taguig had initially been found to have “fraudulently” issued land titles. At least four other parcels, he said, had no plotted title lots in the digital files of the Land Registration Authority.

The findings were made public after Lacson faced insinuations that his earlier disclosures concerning allegedly illegal reclamation activities in Taguig were “fake news.”