Alleged 'ghost' flood control projects now at 472 —DPWH

The number of alleged "ghost" flood management projects in the country has increased to 472, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said Friday.

At the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing, DPWH Undersecretary Arthur Bisnar said the number of alleged non-existent flood control projects rose from 420 to 472 as of Wednesday, November 12.

"As of November 12, ang AFP at PNP, ang field validation nila ang total ay 10,075. Initial field validation pa lang po ito. Of the number, 252 ang na-identify nila," said Bisnar.

(As of November 12, the AFP and PNP conducted an initial field validation into 10,075 flood control projects. Of the figures, 252 were identified to be non-existent.)

"May increase na 52 flood control projects from the figure in October," he said.

(There was an increase of 52 from the October figures.)

Last month, the DPWH said there were 420 "ghost" flood projects in 8,000 flood management projects initially inspected across the country.

The projects were discovered in different areas in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Most of these ghost projects were recorded in Luzon, the DPWH added.

Meanwhile, Bisnar said the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development in the Philippines (DEPDev) conducted an initial inspection into 9,855 flood management projects. Of the figures, 489 were identified to be "ghost" projects.—LDF, GMA Integrated News