Despite national findings of ghost projects, including a ₱55-million river wall project in Baliuag, Bulacan that was found nonexistent, DPWH-7 reiterated that Central Visayas remains free of such anomalies.
CEBU CITY, PHILIPPINES — The Department of Public Works and Highways in Central Visayas (DPWH-7) has assured the public that there are no so-called “ghost projects” under its flood control initiatives in the region.
DPWH-7 regional director Danilo J. Villa Jr. said Wednesday that validation and audit teams deployed in Region 7 have not discovered any irregularities or nonexistent projects.
“So far, based on the report, lumabas na hindi naman po tayo apektado ng ating sabing guni-guni,” Villa said, referring to “ghost projects” that have been at the center of national controversy.
Ghost projects are government-funded infrastructure programs recorded in official documents but never actually built. They became a major concern after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. exposed alleged anomalies in Bulacan and other provinces.
Villa emphasized that in Central Visayas, particularly in Cebu, flood control projects are “on the ground and verifiable.”
“Sinisigurado ko po base po sa report ng ating tao, ang Region 7 ay walang ganoong klaseng projects,” he added.
According to Villa, 414 flood control projects in Cebu have been logged in the President’s dashboard since 2022, with 15 being implemented this year. These projects include drainage systems, revetment protection, box culverts, and seawalls. Across the region, more than 600 flood-related projects have been consolidated, covering Cebu, Negros, and Siquijor.
Villa said delays in project completion are common, as infrastructure works are usually funded in phases.
“Ang proyekto natin ay hindi isahang gawa, ang pondo na na-release dito ay hindi isahan,” he explained.
He also stressed that flooding cannot be solved by infrastructure alone: “Ito po ay holistic, na intervene ang lahat ng stakeholders—LGU man, involvement ng society para sa ikakaganda ng sistema.”
DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan earlier told the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee that he had directed inspection teams nationwide, including Region 7, to validate flood control projects. Villa said that even before this directive, DPWH-7 already had its own teams monitoring ongoing and completed projects.
“It’s a proactive measure to check, based on the pronouncement of the President, kung apektado ba tayo sa ghost projects or contractors na hindi maganda ang pagkagawa,” Villa said.
He added that contractors are required to carry out remedial work on defective or damaged projects to ensure quality and compliance.
From 2022 to 2025, Region 7 received ₱73.1 billion worth of projects, of which ₱40.6 billion have already been completed. Data show that 576 projects were finished during the period, while 382 are ongoing.
Among Cebu’s completed projects are the ₱120.6-million Ocaña River Flood Control Structure in Carcar City, the multi-million-peso revetments along the Mananga River in Talisay City, the ₱49-million Taytayan Creek flood control system in Bogo City, the ₱57.89-million Jagobiao Creek Phase 3 in Consolacion, and the ₱149.84-million Cotcot River flood control system in Liloan.
Even smaller works have been completed, such as the ₱4.93-million drainage structure in Barangay Sacsac, Consolacion.
On August 11, during the launch of sumbongsapangulo.ph, data showed Cebu had the second-highest number of flood control projects in the country since 2022.
Despite national findings of ghost projects, including a ₱55-million river wall project in Baliuag, Bulacan that was found nonexistent, DPWH-7 reiterated that Central Visayas remains free of such anomalies.
“Hindi po kami natigil sa adhikain na maipakita sa taumbayan na ang Region 7 po ay hindi po kasama sa mga pinagdududahan na may guni-guni projects,” Villa said.
| Written by Jonnavie Villa/FPL
