By I. Inojales | 02:48 PM November 18, 2025
MANILA — Education Undersecretary Trygve Olaivar has resigned from his post as allegations linking him to supposed irregularities in flood-control projects continue to intensify.
DepEd chief media relations officer Dennis Legaspi confirmed on Tuesday that Olaivar had “formally submitted his resignation to the Palace,” signaling the administration’s effort to keep the department insulated from the widening controversy.
Olaivar—husband of Candijay, Bohol Mayor Thamar Olaivar—was thrust into the spotlight after former public works undersecretary Roberto Bernardo testified before the Senate blue ribbon committee that he had “transactions” with the DepEd official. Bernardo earlier alleged, through a Sept. 25 affidavit, that Olaivar had received deliveries connected to infrastructure projects attributed to former Sen. Sonny Angara between 2019 and 2024.
Bernardo further claimed these deliveries represented around 12 percent of Angara’s projects during the senator’s tenure as chair of the Senate committee on finance.
Angara has repeatedly denied any involvement in the alleged anomalies.
Olaivar’s resignation comes as the Senate continues to unravel what it describes as a complex web of political, bureaucratic, and contractor-linked dealings in flood-mitigation projects nationwide.
