Catanduanes remains red flag for DPWH district eng’rs

By Manuel T. Ugalde

VIRAC, Catanduanes – Known as the country’s “Happy Island,” Catanduanes is ironically one of the most politically and climatically storm-ridden provinces, earning a red-flag status among Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) district engineers in the past three years.

Reports indicate that bidding for public works projects in the province has been conducted at the DPWH regional office in Legazpi City. Regional Director Virgilio Eduarte confirmed this, saying the move was at the request of the concerned district engineer. However, local contractors have rebuked the decision, blaming heavy political interference.

Disturbed by the Catanduanes situation, in May 2024, DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan reportedly appointed Engineer Denis Cagomoc from Samar to replace Engineer Ferdinand Joven, who had bolted his assignment in less than a year. Cagomoc, who was recommended by Director Eduarte, surprisingly followed in Joven’s footsteps—filing an indefinite leave of absence just six months into his post, with a reported threat not to return to the province.

Earlier, Eduarte clarified that if current district engineer Simon Arias opts for reassignment or promotion to Assistant Regional Director (ARD), his post will be filled without delay. However, he noted that Congressman Eulogio Leo Rodriguez has shown a preference for assigning engineers not native to Catanduanes. Among the four district engineers appointed since the 2022 elections, only Gil Augustus Balmadrid was a native of the province—allegedly replaced at the behest of Congressman Rodriguez shortly after his election that year.

In fact, Engineer Arias was reassigned from his Masbate post in a swap with Cagomoc, as ordered by Secretary Bonoan.

Former DPWH Bicol Legal Officer Oliver Rodulfo, now retired, claimed that the controversial transfer of project biddings to the regional office was allegedly orchestrated by both the provincial capitol and the congressman.

Amid these developments, not one among the five experienced engineers currently on floating status at the regional office has expressed willingness to be assigned to Catanduanes. Engineers on indefinite standby are often informally referred to as “political prisoners” within the DPWH.

Formerly a sub-province of Albay until 1945, Catanduanes is known today as the country’s abaca capital and also holds one of the highest outmigration rates, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.

Today, the province’s reputation as politically and climatically “disturbed” continues to hound its infrastructure leadership.

Since 2022, four district engineers have cycled through the position:

Engr. Gil Augustus Balmadrid, a native of the province, was dismissed just months after the 2022 elections.

Engr. Ferdinand Joven, from Camarines Sur, took over but left after eight months without waiting for a provincial board resolution declaring him persona non grata. Joven had transferred P2.1 billion worth of contracts for bidding to the regional office, bypassing local contractors and residents.

Engr. Denis Cagomoc, from Samar, filed an indefinite leave after six months.

Engr. Simon Arias, the current district engineer, has already expressed a desire for reassignment barely three months into the job.

The P2.1 billion in transferred projects represented a significant portion of the province’s P2.8 billion DPWH budget for 2023.

DPWH insiders note that the standard minimum tour of duty for a district engineer is three years, a rule often bent or broken due to political maneuvering—especially since the Cory Aquino administration granted lawmakers expanded influence over infrastructure implementation.

As the turnover continues, Catanduanes remains a cautionary tale—and a red flag—within the DPWH system.