‘LIMA KA BÁGAT’: Suplico flags PHP 506.89 million seawall projects

By Mariela Angella Oladive

Fifth District Board Member Rolex Suplico raised alarm over five seawall projects in northern Iloilo worth a total of PHP 506.893 million, describing them as delayed, incomplete, and saddled with expired contracts.

In a privilege speech before the Sangguniang Panlalawigan on Tuesday, Sept. 30, Suplico titled his address “Lima ka Bágat,” – a Hiligaynon term that refers to something frightening or disastrous – to highlight what he called “unmistakable red flags” in the projects.

Suplico said his September 24 inspections revealed the following problems:

• A ₱143.220-million seawall project in Brgy. Mangorocoro, Ajuy, contracted to the joint venture of C’Zarles Construction & Supply of Butuan City (sole proprietorship) and Virgin Builders Construction of Estancia, Iloilo (sole proprietorship), has zero accomplishment.

Suplico noted that the project billboard was only installed two hours before his visit.

• A ₱48.899-million seawall in Brgy. Barrido, Ajuy, awarded to Panay East Coast Construction & Supply (sole proprietorship from Ajuy), showed less than 10% accomplishment.

Suplico said the project billboard appeared tampered with—its completion date extended and handwritten notes citing “suspension due to inaccessibility and DENR/LGU permit concerns.”

He added that the winning bidder appeared to have subcontracted the work to another contractor from Sara.

• Another seawall project in Brgy. Mangorocoro, Ajuy, worth ₱76.143 million and awarded to A.D. Pendon Construction & Supply, Inc. of Iloilo City, was supposed to be completed by September 24, 2025.

However, residents told Suplico that construction only began last month, with accomplishment still below 20%.

• In Brgy. Poblacion, San Dionisio, a ₱143.299-million seawall project by Jejors Construction Corporation of Cagayan de Oro is already eight months delayed, with only 65% of the work completed despite its January 2025 target.
• A ₱95.341-million seawall project in Brgy. Mangorocoro, Ajuy, undertaken by QM Builders of Dumanjug, Cebu (sole proprietorship), is seven months delayed and only 70% complete despite its February 2025 deadline.

Suplico criticized project billboards as incomplete, altered, or vandalized and asked why documents meant to ensure transparency were being tampered with.

He questioned why multimillion-peso projects were awarded to sole proprietorships, calling it “the lowest business model,” and argued they should not handle projects worth hundreds of millions.

He warned against possible extensions, variation orders, or contract adjustments that could further inflate costs and alleged that some contractors siphon funds through variation orders and legalized delays.

He lamented a lack of transparency, saying that despite a provincial board resolution requesting project documents since July 2022, he has yet to receive complete records.

He further alleged that a “power couple” in the 5th District is controlling the local Department of Public Works and Highways office and benefiting from the projects, stressing in his speech that “the half a billion pesos appropriated for these seawalls have disappeared, or are fast disappearing, into the pockets of the corrupt power couple of the 5th District, their DPWH minions, and contractor cohorts.”

The projects cited are part of coastal protection works typically implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways and local governments, and Suplico’s allegations remain subject to investigation and official response.