SYMS Construction Trading, tagged as the contractor behind several ghost projects in Bulacan province, has bagged a total of 16 flood control projects worth about P1 billion, records from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) showed.
Project records obtained by The Manila Times showed that of the 16 contracts, SYMS had 14 solo contracts and shared two with Wawao Builders.
The same records showed that 12 of the projects were marked as completed in 2024, three were allegedly finished in 2023 and one was done in 2022.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. with Transport Secretary Vince Dizon, Bulacan Gov. Daniel Fernando and Bulusan Barangay Captain Danilo Marin during the inspection of the anti-flood dike along Pampanga River and a flood mitigation structure in Barangay Bulusan, Calumpit, Bulacan. PHOTOS BY REVOLI CORTEZ AND MARK BALMORES/PPA POOL
The contracts were Construction of Flood Control Project Control Structure along Angat River, Barangay Pinagtulayan, Norzaragay, Bulacan (P48,249,967.43); Construction of Revetment at Santa Elena-San Pedro along Angat River, Hagonoy, Bulacan (P38,599,1237.21); Construction of Revetment at Carillo-Abulalas along Angat River at Hagonoy, Bulacan, (P38,599,279.72); Construction of Reinforced Concrete Slope Revetment in Barangay Tikay, Malolos City, Bulacan (P67,549,811.86); Construction of Reinforced Concrete Slope Revetment in Barangay Canalate, Malolos City, Bulacan (P62,724,600); Construction of Reinforced Concrete Slope Revetment in Barangay Bulihan, Malolos City, Bulacan (P62,724,643.44); Construction of Reinforced Concrete Flood Control Structure along Angat River, San Pedro Section, Bustos, Bulacan (P77,199087.48); Construction of Reinforce Concrete Flood Control Structure, Barangay Caliligawan, Malolos City, Bulacan (72,366,243.57); Construction of Flood Control Structure, Barangay Atlag, Malolos City, Bulacan (P72,374,895.37); Construction of Reinforce Concrete Flood Control Structure, Barangay Atlag, Malolos City, Bulacan (P72,374,953.65); Construction of Reinforced Concrete Flood Control Structure, Barangay Sagrada Familia (Purok 4 to Purok 5), Hagonoy, Bulacan (P67,549,901.28); Construction of Reinforced Concrete Flood Control Structure, Barangay Santa Monica (Purok 6 to Purok 7), Hagonoy, Bulacan (P67,549,830.35); Construction of Reinforced Concrete Slope at Sitio Pulo, San Roque, Paombong, Bulacan, (P14,847,428.18); Construction of Flood Mitigation Structure Structure, Barangay San Jose, Calumpit Bulacan (P24,499,119.13); Construction of River Control Project along Bocaue River, Igulot Section (Tributary), Sta. 05t280 to Sta. 05t610, Bocaue, Bulacan (P96,499,997.13); and Construction of Flood Control Structure including Outfall along Barangay Virgen Delos Flores, Santa Barbara and Tiaong, Baliuag, Bulacan (P47,519,329.41).
Many of the projects have almost similar amounts, having only a difference of several hundreds or thousands of pesos.
The two projects that were jointly implemented by SYMS and Wawao were: Construction of River Control Project along Bocaue River, Igulot Section (Tributary), Sta. 05t280 to Sta. 05t610, Bocaue, Bulacan (P96,499,997.13), completed in 2023 and Construction of Flood Control Structure including Outfall along Barangay Virgen Delos Flores, Santa Barbara and Tiaong, Baliuag, Bulacan (P47,519,329.41), completed in 2022.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr visits what was reported as a completed riverwall project in Baliuag, Bulacan, on Aug. 20, 2025, only to find out that ‘not a single hollow block’ was put in place. The project, which was supposed to have started in February was worth around P55 million, according to government records and was awarded to contractor, Syms Construction Trading. An ‘extremely’ disappointed president threatened to file economic sabotage charges against erring contractors. PHOTO BY MIKE ALQUINTO
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr visits what was reported as a completed riverwall project in Baliuag, Bulacan, on Aug. 20, 2025, only to find out that ‘not a single hollow block’ was put in place. The project, which was supposed to have started in February was worth around P55 million, according to government records and was awarded to contractor, Syms Construction Trading. An ‘extremely’ disappointed president threatened to file economic sabotage charges against erring contractors. PHOTO BY MIKE ALQUINTO
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr visits what was reported as a completed riverwall project in Baliuag, Bulacan, on Aug. 20, 2025, only to find out that ‘not a single hollow block’ was put in place. The project, which was supposed to have started in February was worth around P55 million, according to government records and was awarded to contractor, Syms Construction Trading. An ‘extremely’ disappointed president threatened to file economic sabotage charges against erring contractors. PHOTO BY MIKE ALQUINTO
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr visits what was reported as a completed riverwall project in Baliuag, Bulacan, on Aug. 20, 2025, only to find out that ‘not a single hollow block’ was put in place. The project, which was supposed to have started in February was worth around P55 million, according to government records and was awarded to contractor, Syms Construction Trading. An ‘extremely’ disappointed president threatened to file economic sabotage charges against erring contractors. PHOTO BY MIKE ALQUINTO
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr visits what was reported as a completed riverwall project in Baliuag, Bulacan, on Aug. 20, 2025, only to find out that ‘not a single hollow block’ was put in place. The project, which was supposed to have started in February was worth around P55 million, according to government records and was awarded to contractor, Syms Construction Trading. An ‘extremely’ disappointed president threatened to file economic sabotage charges against erring contractors. PHOTO BY MIKE ALQUINTO
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr visits what was reported as a completed riverwall project in Baliuag, Bulacan, on Aug. 20, 2025, only to find out that ‘not a single hollow block’ was put in place. The project, which was supposed to have started in February was worth around P55 million, according to government records and was awarded to contractor, Syms Construction Trading. An ‘extremely’ disappointed president threatened to file economic sabotage charges against erring contractors. PHOTO BY MIKE ALQUINTO
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr visits what was reported as a completed riverwall project in Baliuag, Bulacan, on Aug. 20, 2025, only to find out that ‘not a single hollow block’ was put in place. The project, which was supposed to have started in February was worth around P55 million, according to government records and was awarded to contractor, Syms Construction Trading. An ‘extremely’ disappointed president threatened to file economic sabotage charges against erring contractors. PHOTO BY MIKE ALQUINTO
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr visits what was reported as a completed riverwall project in Baliuag, Bulacan, on Aug. 20, 2025, only to find out that ‘not a single hollow block’ was put in place. The project, which was supposed to have started in February was worth around P55 million, according to government records and was awarded to contractor, Syms Construction Trading. An ‘extremely’ disappointed president threatened to file economic sabotage charges against erring contractors. PHOTO BY MIKE ALQUINTO
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr visits what was reported as a completed riverwall project in Baliuag, Bulacan, on Aug. 20, 2025, only to find out that ‘not a single hollow block’ was put in place. The project, which was supposed to have started in February was worth around P55 million, according to government records and was awarded to contractor, Syms Construction Trading. An ‘extremely’ disappointed president threatened to file economic sabotage charges against erring contractors. PHOTO BY MIKE ALQUINTO
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr visits what was reported as a completed riverwall project in Baliuag, Bulacan, on Aug. 20, 2025, only to find out that ‘not a single hollow block’ was put in place. The project, which was supposed to have started in February was worth around P55 million, according to government records and was awarded to contractor, Syms Construction Trading. An ‘extremely’ disappointed president threatened to file economic sabotage charges against erring contractors. PHOTO BY MIKE ALQUINTO
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr visits what was reported as a completed riverwall project in Baliuag, Bulacan, on Aug. 20, 2025, only to find out that ‘not a single hollow block’ was put in place. The project, which was supposed to have started in February was worth around P55 million, according to government records and was awarded to contractor, Syms Construction Trading. An ‘extremely’ disappointed president threatened to file economic sabotage charges against erring contractors. PHOTO BY MIKE ALQUINTO
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr visits what was reported as a completed riverwall project in Baliuag, Bulacan, on Aug. 20, 2025, only to find out that ‘not a single hollow block’ was put in place. The project, which was supposed to have started in February was worth around P55 million, according to government records and was awarded to contractor, Syms Construction Trading. An ‘extremely’ disappointed president threatened to file economic sabotage charges against erring contractors. PHOTO BY MIKE ALQUINTO
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr visits what was reported as a completed riverwall project in Baliuag, Bulacan, on Aug. 20, 2025, only to find out that ‘not a single hollow block’ was put in place. The project, which was supposed to have started in February was worth around P55 million, according to government records and was awarded to contractor, Syms Construction Trading. An ‘extremely’ disappointed president threatened to file economic sabotage charges against erring contractors. PHOTO BY MIKE ALQUINTO
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr visits what was reported as a completed riverwall project in Baliuag, Bulacan, on Aug. 20, 2025, only to find out that ‘not a single hollow block’ was put in place. The project, which was supposed to have started in February was worth around P55 million, according to government records and was awarded to contractor, Syms Construction Trading. An ‘extremely’ disappointed president threatened to file economic sabotage charges against erring contractors. PHOTO BY MIKE ALQUINTO
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr visits what was reported as a completed riverwall project in Baliuag, Bulacan, on Aug. 20, 2025, only to find out that ‘not a single hollow block’ was put in place. The project, which was supposed to have started in February was worth around P55 million, according to government records and was awarded to contractor, Syms Construction Trading. An ‘extremely’ disappointed president threatened to file economic sabotage charges against erring contractors. PHOTO BY MIKE ALQUINTO
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr visits what was reported as a completed riverwall project in Baliuag, Bulacan, on Aug. 20, 2025, only to find out that ‘not a single hollow block’ was put in place. The project, which was supposed to have started in February was worth around P55 million, according to government records and was awarded to contractor, Syms Construction Trading. An ‘extremely’ disappointed president threatened to file economic sabotage charges against erring contractors. PHOTO BY MIKE ALQUINTO
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr visits what was reported as a completed riverwall project in Baliuag, Bulacan, on Aug. 20, 2025, only to find out that ‘not a single hollow block’ was put in place. The project, which was supposed to have started in February was worth around P55 million, according to government records and was awarded to contractor, Syms Construction Trading. An ‘extremely’ disappointed president threatened to file economic sabotage charges against erring contractors. PHOTO BY MIKE ALQUINTO
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr visits what was reported as a completed riverwall project in Baliuag, Bulacan, on Aug. 20, 2025, only to find out that ‘not a single hollow block’ was put in place. The project, which was supposed to have started in February was worth around P55 million, according to government records and was awarded to contractor, Syms Construction Trading. An ‘extremely’ disappointed president threatened to file economic sabotage charges against erring contractors. PHOTO BY MIKE ALQUINTO
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr visits what was reported as a completed riverwall project in Baliuag, Bulacan, on Aug. 20, 2025, only to find out that ‘not a single hollow block’ was put in place. The project, which was supposed to have started in February was worth around P55 million, according to government records and was awarded to contractor, Syms Construction Trading. An ‘extremely’ disappointed president threatened to file economic sabotage charges against erring contractors. PHOTO BY MIKE ALQUINTO
Of the 14 projects solely implemented by SYMS, two were reportedly completed in 2023, namely: Construction of Reinforced Concrete Slope at Sitio Pulo, San Roque, Paombong, Bulacan, (P14,847,428.18) and Construction of Flood Mitigation Structure Structure, Barangay San Jose, Calumpit Bulacan (P24,499,119.13), The other 12 were completed in 2024.
Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan said he is leaving his fate to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. amid calls for his suspension or resignation as an offshoot of the more than P500 billion worth of anomalous flood control projects that were implemented from 2022 to 2025.
During a Senate investigation, Bonoan confirmed there were ghost flood control projects in Bulacan.
At the hearing, Bonoan said he has removed the officials of district engineering offices in Bulacan and other areas involved in alleged anomalous flood control projects. The DPWH regional office, for the meantime, would take over the function of the district offices where the officials were removed, he added.
Bonoan said that they were fully documenting everything, and if results of the investigation would prove the involvement of some public works officials, cases would be filed against them.
The DPWH chief said, however, that not all of the flood control projects were started under the Marcos administration.
“Some of the projects on the list were started by the past administration and were completed in 2022 and 2023. The implementing budget for this administration started in 2023 and we included them in our report because that was asked from us,” Bonoan said.
