The Department of Education (DepEd) confirmed that Undersecretary Trygve Olaivar has formally resigned from his post, marking another high-profile exit as scrutiny intensifies over the alleged Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) flood-control anomaly.
Olaivar’s departure comes amid a growing wave of resignations from senior government officials, many of which are tied to or coincide with the ongoing investigation into questionable infrastructure allocations and unprogrammed appropriations.
On November 17, 2025, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. accepted the resignations of Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin and Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman.
Their resignations follow mounting public and legislative pressure over alleged irregularities in flood-control and infrastructure projects.
During hearings before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo testified that in 2024, Olaivar allegedly contacted him to discuss unprogrammed appropriations and was told the funds were for the Office of the Executive Secretary. He also claimed Olaivar requested a list of flood-control projects. Olaivar has vehemently denied the allegations in a statement on September 25, 2025.
The resignation of Bersamin (who headed the Office of the President) and Pangandaman (who led the Department of Budget and Management) fegured the gravity of the institutional fallout. While neither Bersamin nor Pangandaman have been formally named in the investigation, their departures contribute to the perception of a broader accountability sweep.
Combined, these developments signal the administration’s move to recalibrate its leadership amid growing public concern over how large infrastructure and flood-control funds were allocated and monitored. For your story in Davao, the link between the flood-control projects, especially in flood-prone areas like Davao City and national-level appropriations now faces heightened scrutiny, making it vital to trace not just the funds but the decision-makers.
Edith Z Caduaya studied Bachelor of Science in Development Communication at the University of Southern Mindanao.
The chairperson of Mindanao Independent Press Council (MIPC) Inc.
