Busuanga, Palawan — April 21, 2026 — A joint inspection conducted by the local government of Busuanga and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 1st District Engineering Office has revealed that several barriers along the Coron-Busuanga Road in Barangay Sto. Niño are substandard, contradicting earlier reports that only two wheel guards were defective.

Busuanga Mayor Raymond Cruz confirmed that random tests on barriers at both ends of the project showed they were filled with gravel and lacked steel reinforcements, instead of being made of solid cement. 

“Hindi lang pala yung walong metrong tinibag na bahagi ang puno ng graba at walang bakal, kundi maging ang iba pang random tested barriers ay substandard din,” Cruz said in an official statement.

The findings directly challenge the initial report of the DPWH Palawan 1st District Engineering Office, which claimed that only two barriers had filler material. The inspection revealed that the problem was more widespread, raising concerns about the integrity of the entire project.

Mayor Cruz also pointed out that barriers within the jurisdiction of Coron were similarly compromised, accusing the contractor, AL Salazar Construction Corporation, of “nilapastangan” the project. He urged the DPWH MIMAROPA office to hold the contractor accountable and review all other projects it has undertaken in Palawan.

The controversy has sparked public outrage, with residents demanding transparency and accountability in infrastructure projects that directly affect road safety. The LGU emphasized that the discovery underscores the need for stricter monitoring and quality control in government-funded construction.

This development adds to growing scrutiny of contractors and government agencies involved in public works, highlighting the importance of ensuring that safety standards are not compromised in critical infrastructure projects.