DPWH Pushes Insurance Claims Over Bulacan ‘Ghost Flood Projects’

Secretary Vince Dizon and IC Commissioner Reynaldo Regalado sign a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to expedite the release of surety bonds for infrastructure projects from insurance companies.

DPWH Pushes Insurance Claims Over Bulacan ‘Ghost Flood Projects’

By Bing Jabadan – TheNationWeek.Com | October 15, 2025

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is aggressively pursuing insurance claims on the anomalous flood control projects in the 1st District of Bulacan.

The move signals a major step by the government in recovering public funds potentially lost to corruption.

Secretary Vince Dizon announced that his department has formally requested insurance payments from three firms – Liberty Insurance, Travelers Insurance, and Sterling Insurance – following findings of irregularities.

Getting the claims comes in the wake of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) signed on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, between the DPWH and the Insurance Commission (IC), aimed at strengthening the monitoring, validation, and enforcement of surety bonds for infrastructure projects.

IC Commissioner Reynaldo Regalado joined Dizon at the signing ceremony, underscoring the collaborative effort to address the issue.

“We have already sent a letter claiming 30 percent for all those projects under the first case filed before the Office of the Ombudsman in the 1st District of Bulacan,” Dizon announced at a press conference following the MOA signing.

He expressed hope that the IC’s involvement would expedite the response from the insurance companies.

The DPWH’s action follows President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to recover misappropriated funds.

“I will repeat what the President has said: to recover the money of the people. Let’s do everything we can to recover the money; let’s do it quickly,” Dizon stressed.

The MOA between the DPWH and IC is expected to streamline the process of claiming performance bonds for infrastructure projects, ensuring that insurance companies fulfill their obligations when projects are found to be substandard or incomplete.

Dizon further stated that every case referred to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) will be accompanied by an immediate application for the performance bond, initiating the claims process promptly.

The proactive approach aims to deter future irregularities and safeguard public investments in infrastructure development.