Culture & Entertainment · Philippines Bureau
DPWH engineer admits depending on contractor reports during inspections
A Department of Public Works and Highways project engineer acknowledged to the Sandiganbayan that staff shortages forced reliance on contractor reports for a road dike project in Oriental Mindoro. The admission came during testimony regarding allegations of substandard construction work.
LSN Philippines ·
MANILA — Felisardo Casuno, project engineer for the Oriental Mindoro road dike undertaking, told the Sandiganbayan Sixth Division on Thursday that resource constraints necessitated depending on reports submitted by contractor Sunwest when departmental personnel were unavailable for on-site inspections.
Casuno's testimony addressed a critical gap in project oversight, as the alleged substandard construction has drawn scrutiny from the anti-graft court. The engineer explained that periodic absences of his team and himself created instances where project progress relied on documentation provided by the implementing contractor rather than independent verification.
The admission highlights ongoing concerns about infrastructure project supervision within the DPWH, particularly regarding the adequacy of personnel assigned to monitor construction quality and adherence to specifications. Casuno's account suggests that staffing limitations may have compromised the department's capacity to conduct regular independent assessments.
The case continues before the Sandiganbayan as investigators examine whether inadequate oversight contributed to construction deficiencies on the Oriental Mindoro project.