LEGAZPI CITY – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Bicol has admitted that the controversial P4-billion Ridge Road project in Bacacay, Albay was an “insertion.”
The multi-lane highway, built in an uninhabited area and equipped with solar streetlights and a helipad, has drawn scrutiny for being added to the national budget without prior vetting.
During a conference in Legazpi City on Friday, October 4, DPWH Region V officials confirmed that Ridge Road, also known as the Manaet–Tanagan Road, was not part of the original infrastructure proposal. Instead, the project appeared in the General Appropriations Act (GAA) and only later secured endorsements.
Under normal protocol, infrastructure projects must be reviewed and endorsed by the Regional Development Council (RDC), which consolidates local priorities, and included in the Regional Development Investment Program (RDIP), the region’s official development roadmap.
By appearing directly in the GAA without RDC vetting, Ridge Road was effectively fast-tracked into the national budget, raising questions about transparency, accountability, and the criteria used to justify its funding.
Billions in contracts, same contractor
Albay first district representative Krisel Lagman revealed that from 2017 to 2023, at least P4.12 billion was allocated to Ridge Road.
Based on DPWH data, which Lagman cited, seven contracts worth P770 million were awarded for road works with nearly identical titles in 2022 alone. She said many of these went to SunWest Construction and Development Corp., a key player in Bicol’s infrastructure sector now under national scrutiny for its role in major flood control projects across the Philippines.
Earthline Construction and Microprime Builders also appeared, often as partners. The lawmaker flagged this clustering of contracts and title duplication as signs of “splitting” or dividing projects to maximize funding or avoid stricter oversight.
A Road without residents
Barangay officials from Bacacay and Sto. Domingo testified that Ridge Road spans four to six lanes, with solar-powered streetlights and a helipad not included in the approved program of work.
Barangay captains said no residents live along the road, while nearby communities still rely on unpaved access roads.
Lagman cited the unfinished 1.8-kilometer Cabasan Road, which would benefit over 4,500 residents, as a stark contrast.
“We put the government’s funds in a place where there are no people,” she said, calling Ridge Road “one of the most glaring injustices” in public spending.
Who benefits?
The helipad and lack of residents raised questions about the road’s intended beneficiaries.
“Government money cannot benefit private businessmen,” Lagman warned, challenging DPWH to justify the RDC endorsement and explain the project’s return on investment.
Environmental and community impact
Barangay officials also said construction lacked slope protection and drainage, causing erosion and flooding in lower areas. “We are the victims of the work spent by the government and taxpayers’ money,” one barangay official said.
Meanwhile, residents continue to rely on makeshift catwalks and wooden bridges to reach barangay centers, which are essential infrastructure still unsupported by national funding.
Lagman warned that budget insertions like Ridge Road expose deeper flaws in infrastructure planning, where communities are sidelined and accountability is blurred.
Despite unresolved questions, Lagman added that similar appropriations were made in 2024, and DPWH Region V confirmed that funding for 2025 again includes allocations for the project.
DPWH officials pledged to submit documents, but for now, Ridge Road remains a symbol of public spending disconnected from public need.I Story by Jay-r Nabor and Michael Josh Toledo
