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Manuel Bonoan

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In this Filipino name, the middle name or maternal family name is Manligas and the surname or paternal family name is Bonoan.
Manuel Bonoan
Bonoan in 2023
40th Secretary of Public Works and Highways
In office
June 30, 2022 – September 1, 2025
PresidentBongbong Marcos
Preceded byRoger Mercado (acting)
Succeeded byVince Dizon
Acting
February 1, 2007 – July 4, 2007
PresidentGloria Macapagal Arroyo
Preceded byHermogenes Ebdane Jr.
Succeeded byHermogenes Ebdane Jr.
Personal details
Born (1945-08-05) August 5, 1945 (age 80)
SpouseYolanda S. Bonoan
Children2, inc. Fatima Gay[1]
ProfessionEngineer
Criminal information
Criminal status
Incarcerated
Criminal charge
Date apprehended
Flood control scandal:
  • May 29, 2026 (Graft)
  • June 1, 2026 (Plunder)
Imprisoned atPhilippine National Police General Hospital

Manuel Manligas Bonoan[3] (born August 5, 1945)[4][5] is a Filipino businessman and engineer who served as the 40th Secretary of Public Works and Highways from June 30, 2022 until his resignation on September 1, 2025. An associate of the DPWH since 1967, he had previously served as secretary in an acting capacity in 2007. Bonoan was previously the president and chief executive officer of SMC Tollways.

In May 2026, the Office of the Ombudsman filed plunder and multiple graft charges against Bonoan before the Sandiganbayan for his alleged involvement in the flood control projects scandal.[6] On June 1, 2026, Bonoan surrendered to authorities after the Sandiganbayan issued a warrant for his arrest on the non-bailable plunder charge.[7]

Education

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Bonoan received his degree in civil engineering from the Mapúa Institute of Technology in the late 1960s.[8][9]

Bonoan later acquired a graduate degree in highway engineering at the University of New South Wales in Australia.[9]

Career

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Government

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Bonoan began working at the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in 1967, when he was in his senior year in college and the agency was named the Department of Public Works, Transportation and Communications (DPWTC).[8][9] He served as assistant secretary for planning during the tenures of Presidents Corazon Aquino and Fidel V. Ramos,[10][11][12] and as undersecretary during the tenures of Presidents Joseph Estrada and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.[13][14] Bonoan also served as acting director of the Mt. Pinatubo Rehabilitation-Project Management Office (MPR-PMO) in 1996 and as chairman of the Pre-qualification, Bids and Awards Committee (PBAC) for Construction Projects in Visayas and Mindanao in the early 2000s.[15][16] During Arroyo's administration, he served as acting secretary of the DPWH from February to July 2007.[13]

Business

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Bonoan was a president and chief executive officer of SMC Tollways, the operator of Skyway, NAIA Expressway, South Luzon Expressway, the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road, and Tarlac–Pangasinan–La Union Expressway tollways.[17] He was also president of the Skyway O&M Corporation, the operator of Skyway and NAIA Expressway led by Ramon Ang, prior to his involvement with SMC Tollways.[13]

Secretary of Public Works and Highways (2022–2025)

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Then President-elect Bongbong Marcos selected Bonoan to lead the DPWH when Marcos assumed the presidency in June 2022.[13] He succeeded acting secretary Roger Mercado, who had in turn succeeded Mark Villar who resigned for a senatorial campaign in the 2022 elections.[18] He pledged for the continuation of unfinished projects and "public-private partnership[s]" under the Build! Build! Build! program of President Rodrigo Duterte, as well as prioritize the checking of river basins for flood control projects and pursue ventures that would help the agriculture and tourism industries.[14][19][20][21] Bonoan instructed DPWH Undersecretary Cathy Cabral to create the Baselined, Balanced and Managed (BBM) Parametric Formula that was used to compute the DPWH budget beginning 2023 when the Marcos government first enacted a national budget.[22]

Flood control projects scandal

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Bonoan with former DPWH Undersecretary Cathy Cabral appearing in a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on anomalous flood control projects on September 23, 2025.
See also: Flood control projects scandal in the Philippines

During a hearing of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee on August 19, 2025, Bonoan stated that he was aware that the DPWH is implementing "ghost" projects in Bulacan and other locations, including flood control projects awarded to contractor Wawao Builders Corporation.[23] Bonoan formed the DPWH Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Committee on August 28, though the committee was dissolved by his successor who said that it was improper for the DPWH to lead the investigation into corruption in the department.[24] On August 30, 2025, announced that he will not resign as DPWH chair following instructions from President Marcos to investigate anomalous, substandard, and ghost projects under his department.[25] He resigned from the post effective September 1, 2025, amidst the flood control projects controversy.[26]

In November 2025, former DPWH undersecretary Roberto Bernardo alleged that former Secretaries Bonoan, Mark Villar (present-day Senator), and Undersecretary Cathy Cabral ran a kickback scheme at the DPWH. Cabral, under Villar and later under Bonoan, made additions or insertions to the proposed national budget to ensure which projects get funded. Cabral and Bonoan also allegedly reserved some DPWH "allocable" budget "for their preferred projects". From 2022 to 2025, Bernardo alleged that he handled 15% kickbacks exceeding ₱5 billion per year.[27]

On November 6, 2025, the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) had already recommended the institution of criminal and administrative charges against Bonoan, namely the filing of charges including plunder, graft and corruption, and bribery in relation to alleged ghost and anomalous flood control projects, particularly a ₱95 million project in Bocaue, Bulacan which investigators said had been fully paid despite the absence of any completed structure at the project site.[28][29]

On May 28, 2026, the Office of the Ombudsman filed charges of plunder, bribery, and multiple counts of graft and corruption before the Sandiganbayan against former Bonoan, Senator Jinggoy Estrada, and several former DPWH officials in connection with the alleged multibillion-peso flood control corruption scandal.[30][31] Prosecutors alleged that Bonoan, along with other officials, participated in a scheme involving anomalous flood control projects implemented by the DPWH. The filing followed a recommendation by the Department of Justice on May 18, 2026 to institute plunder and graft charges after an investigation into alleged irregularities in government flood control contracts.[32]

On May 29, 2026, Bonoan surrendered before the Sandiganbayan after the court's Second Division issued warrants of arrest for the graft charges, which were considered bailable offenses. He subsequently posted bail amounting to ₱90,000, allowing his provisional release pending trial.[33]

On June 1, 2026, the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division issued a warrant of arrest against Bonoan for the non-bailable plunder charge after finding probable cause to proceed with the case.[34] Bonoan surrendered to authorities on the same day. Following his surrender, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla announced that Bonoan would be brought to the Philippine National Police General Hospital in Camp Crame, Quezon City, after suffering from hypertension amid the implementation of the arrest warrant.[35][36]

Personal life

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Bonoan is married to Yolanda S. Bonoan; they have two children.[9] His daughter, Fatima Gay, is a real estate broker currently serving as COO and treasurer of the MBB Global Properties Corp., which owns the Wyndham Garden hotel in Clark Freeport, Angeles City, Pampanga.[1][37] Bonoan is a resident of Solsona, Ilocos Norte.[8]

[edit]
  • Wikimedia Commons logo Media related to Manuel Bonoan at Wikimedia Commons

References

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  1. ^ a b Santos, Tina G. (September 10, 2025). "Lacson connects Bonoan to contractor, tags 'BGC Boys'". Inquirer.net. Inquirer Interactive, Inc. Retrieved September 10, 2025.
  2. ^ Sigales, Jason (June 1, 2026). "Estrada, Bonoan, 3 others accounted for in plunder case". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
  3. ^ Balinbin, Arjay (June 1, 2022). "Marcos gov't eyes PPP projects, incoming DPWH chief says". BusinessWorld. Retrieved June 19, 2022.
  4. ^ "Manuel M. Bonoan Resume (as of March 25, 2024)" (PDF). Philippine Ports Authority. March 2024. Retrieved July 28, 2024. Age: 78
  5. ^ "Board of Directors". Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority. Retrieved May 21, 2025.
  6. ^ Buan, Lian (May 28, 2026). "Jinggoy Estrada, Manuel Bonoan face plunder, graft raps over flood control projects". Rappler. Retrieved June 1, 2026.
  7. ^ "Estrada, Bonoan, 3 others in plunder case all accounted for – DILG chief". Philippine Daily Inquirer. June 1, 2026. Retrieved June 1, 2026.
  8. ^ a b c Fortuna, Julius F. (February 6, 2007). "DPWH at ease with Bonoan". The Manila Times. Vol. 108, no. 118. p. A4. Retrieved September 10, 2025.
  9. ^ a b c d Salaverria, Leila B. (February 1, 2007). "GMA names 40-year veteran as OIC of DPWH". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Vol. 22, no. 55. The Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inc. p. A4. Retrieved September 10, 2025. He [Manuel Bonoan] holds a graduate diploma in highway engineering from the University of South Wales [sic] in Sydney, Australia.
  10. ^ Rivera, Lolita (July 29, 1988). "Laguna bridge test completed". Manila Standard. Vol. II, no. 170. Standard Publications, Inc. p. 11. Retrieved September 10, 2025.
  11. ^ "Memorandum Order No. 373". Official Gazette. 87 (37). Office of the President: 5334. September 16, 1991. ISSN 0115-0421. Retrieved September 10, 2025.
  12. ^ "DPWH exec sacked over megadike breach". Manila Standard. Vol. X, no. 181. Kamahalan Publishing Corporation. August 12, 1996. p. 1. Retrieved September 10, 2025. [Florante] Soriquez will be replaced temporarily by DPWH Assistant Secretary for Planning Manuel Bonoan until a permanent MPR-PMO director is appointed.
  13. ^ a b c d "Marcos picks SMC Tollways CEO Manuel Bonoan as public works secretary". Rappler. May 26, 2022. Retrieved June 19, 2022.
  14. ^ a b Cabanban, Seth (June 5, 2022). "The #MarcosCabinet: Manny Bonoan, DPWH Secretary". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved June 19, 2022.
  15. ^ Roxas, Fred (September 18, 1996). "'Warring' agencies to close ranks in anti-lahar projects". Manila Standard. Vol. X, no. 218. Kamahalan Publishing Corporation. p. 2. Retrieved September 10, 2025.
  16. ^ "Invitation to Prequalify and to Bid". Manila Standard. Vol. XIV, no. 438. Kamahalan Publishing Corporation. April 29, 2000. p. 8. Retrieved September 10, 2025.
  17. ^ "SMC tollways bares 2019 Holy Week preparations". Manila Standard. April 6, 2019. Retrieved June 19, 2022.
  18. ^ "Manny Bonoan is Marcos' DPWH chief; Alfredo Pascual to lead DTI". The Philippine Star. May 26, 2022. Retrieved June 19, 2022.
  19. ^ "Incoming DPWH chief wants to address traffic woes, continue Build, Build, Build". CNN Philippines. May 30, 2022. Archived from the original on May 30, 2022.
  20. ^ ABS-CBN News (June 13, 2022). Incoming DPWH chief says to prioritize flood control projects | TeleRadyo. YouTube (in Filipino and English). Google LLC. Event occurs at 3:42, 4:17. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
  21. ^ Quimbo, Miro (January 8, 2023). "Alisin ang baha. Yan ang utos ni Sec Bonoan sa mga kawani ng DPWH" [Eliminate floods. That is the order of Sec. Bonoan to the staff of DPWH.]. Facebook (in Filipino). Meta Platforms, Inc. Retrieved July 28, 2024. Nakipagpulong si Teacher Stella kay DPWH Sec. Manuel Bonoan upang pag-usapan ang mga flood control projects sa Marikina.
  22. ^ Latoza, Guinevere (November 29, 2025). "'Allocables' are the new pork and Sandro Marcos and Martin Romualdez are the pork barrel kings". Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism. Retrieved February 18, 2026.
  23. ^ Abanto, Rowegie. "DPWH chief admits existence of 'ghost' flood control projects, vows probe | ABS-CBN News". ABS-CBN. Archived from the original on August 30, 2025. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  24. ^ Salcedo, Mary Joy (September 2, 2025). "Dizon to abolish Bonoan's DPWH anti-corruption task force". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  25. ^ Gatchalian, Ched Rick. "DPWH chief on resign calls: Easier to do, but not the right way to find solution | ABS-CBN News". ABS-CBN. Archived from the original on September 4, 2025. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  26. ^ Delgado, Harlene (August 31, 2025). "Bonoan out, Dizon in as new acting DPWH secretary amid flood control fiasco". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved August 31, 2025.
  27. ^ Buan, Lian (November 14, 2025). "Mark Villar, Bonoan, Cabral operated kickback system in DPWH – witness". Rappler. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
  28. ^ "ICI recommends raps vs. Bonoan, other ex-DPWH execs over ghost project". Philippine News Agency. November 6, 2025. Retrieved June 1, 2026.
  29. ^ Buan, Lian (November 6, 2025). "Manuel Bonoan on ICI charge sheet as report recommends complaint before Ombudsman". Rappler. Retrieved June 1, 2026.
  30. ^ Buan, Lian (May 28, 2026). "Jinggoy Estrada, Manuel Bonoan face plunder, graft raps over flood control projects". Rappler. Retrieved June 1, 2026.
  31. ^ "Plunder, graft raps filed vs Estrada, Bonoan, several others". SunStar Philippines. May 28, 2026. Retrieved June 1, 2026.
  32. ^ "DOJ to Ombudsman: File plunder, graft raps vs. Jinggoy Estrada, Bonoan". GMA News Online. May 18, 2026. Retrieved June 1, 2026.
  33. ^ "Sen. Jinggoy Estrada posts P90,000 bail for graft case at Sandiganbayan". Philippine Daily Inquirer. May 29, 2026. Retrieved June 1, 2026.
  34. ^ Buan, Lian (June 1, 2026). "Manuel Bonoan surrenders in plunder case, hospitalized for hypertension". Rappler. Retrieved June 1, 2026.
  35. ^ "Remulla: Bonoan to be hospitalized due to hypertension amid arrest order". Philippine Daily Inquirer. June 1, 2026. Retrieved June 1, 2026.
  36. ^ Buan, Lian (June 1, 2026). "Manuel Bonoan surrenders in plunder case, hospitalized for hypertension". Rappler. Retrieved June 1, 2026.
  37. ^ "Real Estate Brokers Licensure Examination". Inquirer.net. Inquirer Interactive, Inc. May 29, 2015. Retrieved September 10, 2025. 1604 DELA CRUZ, FATIMA GAY BONOAN
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