A local official claimed there are no “ghost projects” by the Department of Public Works and Highways in Gingoog City, though the quality of the projects remains unverified.
City Councilor Wayne Militante Jr., chairman of the Committee on Infrastructure, confirmed that the City Project Monitoring and Evaluation Committee found all DPWH projects, including flood control initiatives, to be in existence.
The inspection stemmed from a nationwide exposé of an alleged P500 billion flood control scam.
However, Militante declined to comment on the quality of the projects, saying, “I have no comment on that,” and simply confirmed its existence.
City Planning and Development Office Overseer Engr. Joel Sinatao said it is difficult to determine if a project is substandard after its completion without destroying it for inspection.
For his part, City Engr. Mark Zeusty Nambatac admitted that the city does not have knowledge of the specific plans or specifications for DPWH projects.
The city is only aware that a project is scheduled for implementation in the area.
Following the alleged nationwide anomaly, President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. recently instructed local government units to be more involved in and aware of projects in their jurisdictions.
City Mayor Erick Cañosa echoed this, stating that the local government must be aware of a project’s scope of work before it can be implemented.
