MANILA —Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson is seeking a Senate investigation into the rehabilitation of EDSA following the appearance of fresh potholes on portions of the newly repaired roadway, raising questions over the quality of the work and the contractor involved.

Lacson’s move comes after pavement damage was reported on the EDSA Busway following heavy rains, despite the section having undergone recent rehabilitation. He said a deeper investigation is necessary not only to determine who should be held accountable, but also to establish what went wrong technically and prevent a repeat of the problem.

The controversy has gained added significance because the contractor behind the EDSA project, Readycon Trading and Construction Corp., has documented past joint-venture links with E. Gardiola Construction, according to government contractor-performance records. Readycon and E. Gardiola Construction were previously involved in joint ventures for major infrastructure projects, including portions of the C-5 extension and a C-5 flyover.

The EDSA rehabilitation contract covering the Orense Street-to-Monumento section was awarded to Readycon through a joint venture with Dumduma Construction and Trading Corp. for P4.009 billion, according to a June 4, 2026 contract agreement cited in reports.

The contractor connection is particularly sensitive amid the government’s continuing investigation into alleged irregularities in public infrastructure projects. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has previously identified contractors allegedly involved in what he described as anomalous flood-control projects, while congressional investigations have scrutinized the relationship between politicians, contractors and the Department of Public Works and Highways.

However, it is important to distinguish between documented business or joint-venture links and proof of wrongdoing. DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon has disputed allegations that Readycon is owned by or directly associated with Gardiola, even as reports have documented previous project partnerships between Readycon and E. Gardiola Construction. Allegations involving Gardiola-linked projects have been referred to investigative authorities.

Lacson’s proposed inquiry could therefore go beyond the immediate question of why potholes appeared on a newly rehabilitated road.

It could examine the bidding and procurement process, the technical specifications of the EDSA rehabilitation, asphalt quality and thickness, quality-control procedures, drainage design, project inspection reports, payments made to the contractor and the identities and relationships of the companies that participated in the project.

The timing also makes the probe significant.

The Senate has been investigating alleged corruption and substandard work in government infrastructure, including flood-control projects. Lacson himself has been among the lawmakers pushing for closer scrutiny of how public works contracts are awarded and implemented.

The EDSA controversy now raises a broader question: Are the same weaknesses that allowed allegedly substandard or anomalous flood-control projects to proliferate also present in other multibillion-peso infrastructure projects?

For Lacson, the answer should not be based on political affiliations or assumptions about a contractor.

It should be established through documents, technical examinations, procurement records, and an audit trail of where every peso went.

After all, if a newly rehabilitated P4-billion roadway begins developing potholes after heavy rains, taxpayers deserve to know whether the problem was simply drainage — or whether something went fundamentally wrong with the way the road was designed, built, inspected and paid for.