Senator Flags P3.7B in Taguig Projects Potentially Wasted on Illegal Reclamation

Senator Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson on Monday said the government might have wasted P3.71 billion on infrastructure projects tied to alleged illegal reclamation activities along Laguna Lake in Taguig City, citing findings from an investigation conducted by his staff. “Based on official records and our investigation, the total cost of identified completed, ongoing and suspended DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways) flood control and multi-purpose projects along the ‘illegal’ Laguna Lakeshore reclamation areas in Taguig City has so far reached P3.713 billion,” Mr. Lacson said in a statement posted on X. He said additional evidence gathered by his team would be turned over to the Office of the Ombudsman’s fact-finding body. Mr. Lacson separately identified five contractors linked to projects accounting for P2.37 billion of the flagged amount. He said all multi-purpose projects handled by one of the contractors have been suspended because of plan revisions. “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 said. The remarks came after Public Works Secretary Vivencio B. Dizon issued cease-and-desist orders covering projects linked to reclamation activities at the request of the Philippine Reclamation Authority. Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter S. Cayetano, in a Facebook post, defended the Lakeshore reclamation area. He said the area has the potential to support health, education, recreation and business activities, adding that many communities depend on Laguna Lake. “May this be a model for other lakes and developments in different LGUs (local government units) that with proper stewardship, purpose and vision, we can transform these blessings into opportunities that benefit our people,” he said on a statement. “Senator Ping, is this what you call wasted?” Mr. Lacson on Aug. 28 also disclosed that the Land Registration Authority had started reviewing 38.8 hectares of what he described as illegally reclaimed land in Taguig. “I requested them to backtrack the history of the issued OCTs (original certificates of title) and other modes of titling, so we will find out how they were manipulated with the end in view of filing criminal charges against those responsible,” he said in a statement. The dispute stems from allegations raised by Mr. Lacson in July involving what he claimed were ghost infrastructure and reclamation projects in Taguig. The allegations emerged amid a public feud between the senator and Mr. Cayetano. Mr. Lacson initially flagged P14.4 billion worth of infrastructure projects implemented from 2020 to 2025 and urged the Office of the Ombudsman to review documents obtained by his staff for possible violations, including plunder, malversation and the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. — Kaela Patricia B. Gabriel