Leyte ‘ghost’ flood projects exposed

PALO — An independent citizens’ group is pushing back against claims by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) that there are no “ghost projects” in Eastern Visayas.

The November 30 Truth Commission says it has uncovered at least two flood control projects in Leyte worth more than P200 million that were declared completed on paper — but, according to them, cannot be found on the ground.

“We categorically reject the sweeping claim that there are no ghost projects in the region,” the group said in a statement. “We do not deal in rumors. We deal in site inspections, photographs, funding records and testimonies from residents.”

Earlier, DPWH regional director Edgar Tabacon maintained that there are no ghost infrastructure projects in Eastern Visayas — whether flood control systems, roads, or bridges. He said no one in his office is under investigation or facing corruption charges. Any delays, he explained, were due to weather, right-of-way issues, or the absence of a suitable lot.

But the citizens’ group pointed to two specific projects: the P48.84-million San Antonio flood control project in Ormoc City, reportedly completed in October 2023, and the P178-million Baybay Flood Control Project in Baybay City, funded in five tranches between 2017 and 2024.

After conducting an on-site inspection in San Antonio, the group said what they found was not a flood control structure, but a narrow, shallow creek overgrown with grass and shrubs.

“No excavation, no concrete flood control structures, no signs of heavy equipment activity, and no visible rehabilitation of the old box culvert downstream,” the group said. Residents in the area also reportedly told them they never saw construction workers or materials delivered to the site.

“If this is not a ghost project, then the public deserves to see the physical structure corresponding to P48.84 million,” the group said, challenging the DPWH to conduct a joint public site inspection.

As for the Baybay project, the group said only about 50 meters of disconnected structure cutting through mangroves can be seen — “then nothing.” Despite this, the project has been declared completed, with certification issued and funds released.

The group described it as a flood control project that “does not control floods” and completion certificates for structures that do not fully exist. “If this is not a ghost, then explain the gap between the paper and the land,” it said.

The citizens’ group is urging the DPWH regional office to open its records to public scrutiny — including releasing as-built plans, inspection reports and the names of certifying officers.

“If everything is legitimate, transparency will only strengthen public trust,” the group said. “If not, the public has the right to know.”

Until documents and physical evidence match, the group added, denying the existence of ghost projects “is not reassuring — it is alarming.”