Family & Early Background
- Henry Alcantara hails from Bocaue, Bulacan province in the Philippines.
- He earned his civil engineering degree from University of Santo Tomas (UST).
Career Trajectory & Professions
- Alcantara began his work at the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in 1994 (or thereabouts) as a casual employee—starting at the “Laborer I” level and progressing through roles during his early years.
- He rose through the ranks over decades: by 2009 he was already designated as OIC Assistant District Engineer of Nueva Ecija 2nd DEO (Region III).
Department of Public Works and Highways - In August 2019 he was officially designated as Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office (DEO) under DPWH Region III.
Department of Public Works and Highways - As District Engineer of Bulacan’s 1st DEO (covering 13 localities including Hagonoy, Calumpit, Malolos, Baliwag), his office handled a large flood-control project portfolio: for example some P28.9 billion worth of projects from 2022-25.
- In mid-2025 he was reassigned/promoted to Officer-in-Charge, Assistant Regional Director of DPWH Region IV-A (Calabarzon).
Work Connections & Network
- During his tenure in Bulacan, Alcantara’s office awarded contracts to firms such as Syms Construction Trading and St. Timothy Construction Corporation (associated with Pacifico/Sarah Discaya) and Wawao Builders, for flood-control projects.
- He has been publicly linked with prominent lawmakers: In sworn statements he named former senators Jinggoy Estrada, Joel Villanueva, and former senator Bong Revilla as part of alleged budget insertion / kickback schemes related to flood control in Bulacan.
- He has been accused of receiving luxury vehicles (a GMC truck and a Land Cruiser LC300) from subordinates, which he admitted during hearings, though he denies knowledge of underlying corruption
Issues & Controversies
- In 2025 Alcantara is at the center of a major investigation into “ghost” or anomalous flood-control projects in Bulacan, meaning projects that were paid for by government funds but not properly constructed (or completed).
- He admitted negligence over a ghost project: for example, a ₱55 million flood-control project in Barangay Piel, Baliwag, Bulacan, which he signed as complete, despite on-site evidence of non-existence.
- On 4 September 2025, DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon dismissed Alcantara from government service for disloyalty to the Republic, grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.
- He was found “guilty” in administrative cases shortly thereafter.
- In sworn affidavit before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee he revealed alleged 20-30% kickback schemes involving multiple billions of pesos in flood-control funds, naming both government officials and contractors.
- A key question under investigation: whether Alcantara acted merely as implementer/engineer who followed orders, or whether he was a “kingpin” in the scheme. He maintains innocence of direct wrongdoing and asserts he will contest accusations.
Observations & Implications
- Alcantara’s rise from laborer level to district engineer shows a long public-service career, which makes the allegations notable within the DPWH’s infrastructure sector.
- The volume and scale of projects under his oversight (in a flood-prone area like Bulacan) underscore the stakes and potential for either major public benefit or major misuse.
- His links to high-level lawmakers through testimony and media scrutiny suggest the case may have implications beyond just one engineering office — touching budget insertion, contractor politics, and public works governance.
- The controversies can erode public trust in infrastructure delivery (especially flood control which is critical for disaster-vulnerable regions). They may also prompt reforms in how DPWH contracts are awarded, supervised, and audited.
Henry Alcantara, DPWH Executive
Henry C. Alcantara is a former district engineer for the Bulacan First District Engineering Office of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in the Philippines. He came under scrutiny for approving flood control projects, including a controversial P55-million reinforced concrete river wall in Barangay Piel, Baliuag, Bulacan, which President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. inspected and deemed a “ghost project”.
Alcantara testified before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee in September 2025 regarding anomalous flood control projects. He stated that budget insertions and kickbacks were given to senators Joel Villanueva, Jinggoy Estrada, and Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., as well as Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co. He also implicated former DPWH Undersecretary Robert Bernardo as his superior in these projects and identified Co as the top proponent of flood control insertions, amounting to P35 billion from 2022 to 2025.
Alcantara admitted to certifying the completion of “ghost projects” based on certificates from his team, assuming regularity in the submitted documents. He also approved other substandard projects, including a P94.6-million river protection structure and a P74.6-million flood mitigation structure, both in Calumpit.
Prior to his relief, Alcantara was appointed as OIC Assistant Regional Director for Region IV-A. He had worked his way up from a job order employee after graduating from the University of Santo Tomas and was appointed district engineer of Bulacan’s First District Engineering Office in 2019.
Henry C. Alcantara’s story is a cautionary tale of how long-standing public-service careers can intersect with large-scale infrastructure projects and systemic risks of wrongdoing. From humble beginnings in Bocaue, Bulacan, to leading one of the highest-budget districts in the DPWH, his path reflects both professional ascent and now major scrutiny.
The flood-control scandal in Bulacan, with which he is intimately tied, highlights issues of governance, accountability, and the oversight of public works in the Philippines. How this case resolves — in terms of legal outcomes, institutional reforms, and public confidence — remains to be monitored.
If you’d like, I can pull together a timeline of his career and investigations (with dates), or look into contractors and firms involved in the Bulacan projects under his oversight.