MANILA, Philippines — April 21, 2026 — A P92.8-million flood control project in Pandi, Bulacan was inserted into the 2025 national budget with former senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. listed as proponent, following the order of the late Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Maria Catalina “Cathy” Cabral, according to testimony presented before the Sandiganbayan. The project is now at the center of graft and malversation charges against Revilla and several DPWH officials.

During a bail hearing, Engr. Peter Cortez, chief of the Programming Division of the DPWH Central Office’s Planning Service, testified that Cabral instructed the inclusion of the Bulacan flood control project in the 2025 General Appropriations Act. Cortez said the project was part of the errata submitted by the DPWH to the House of Representatives in September 2024, which later became part of the approved budget.

This marks the first time Cabral’s name has been formally linked to the controversial project in court proceedings. Cabral, who died in 2025 after falling into a ravine in Benguet in what authorities ruled a suicide, had previously been involved in budget planning and infrastructure oversight.

The Sandiganbayan case alleges that despite the project being declared 95 percent complete within just 21 days, on-site inspections by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) revealed construction was “minimal to almost nothing.”

Witnesses claim Cabral not only ordered the project’s inclusion but also named Revilla as its proponent, raising questions about the coordination between DPWH officials and lawmakers in securing budget allocations.

The controversy has fueled public debate over accountability in infrastructure spending, with critics pointing to the Bulacan project as an example of how budget insertions can be manipulated for political or personal gain. The Sandiganbayan proceedings are expected to continue in the coming weeks, with further testimonies from DPWH officials and investigators.

This case underscores broader concerns about transparency in public works projects, especially those tied to large-scale budgets. For Bulacan residents, the flood control project was supposed to provide protection against seasonal flooding, but its alleged irregularities have left communities vulnerable and taxpayers questioning where funds were actually spent.

The outcome of the trial could set a precedent for how budget insertions and errata are scrutinized in future appropriations, particularly when linked to high-profile politicians and government officials.