The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has issued show cause orders against the regional director of DPWH-Davao and the district engineer of DPWH-Davao Occidental over a ghost flood control project discovered in Barangay Culaman, Jose Abad Santos town.

DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon issued the order against Engineer Rodrigo Larete, the district engineer of DPWH-Davao Occidental District Engineering Office.

This came after Larete was found to have paid the contractor of the project fully with P96.5 million even though the project had not been finished. It was, however, declared completed in October 2022.

It was discovered later that the construction started only two weeks before Dizon and former Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) Special Adviser and incumbent Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong inspected the site on September 25, 2025.

"Nagbayad ka kahit hindi talaga sya completed,” Dizon told Larete during the inspection.

Larete said they paid the project fully to catch up with the disbursement rate, a reason that Dizon did not accept.

"Due to the disbursement rate na hinahabol namin… pero with the agreement na tatapusin ng contractor,” Larete explained.

“So ito ay ghost project na nasimulan, napondohan ng previous administration at na-carry over nalang noong 2022,” Dizon said.

Larete was directed to submit a written explanation within five days after receipt of notice why he should not be charged administratively.

Since the DPWH-Davao Occidental is under the command authority and supervisory control of the regional director, DPWH-11 Director, Juby Cordon was also ordered to submit a written explanation why he should not be held liable administratively for possible violations of existing laws, regulations, and orders.

DPWH said failure to respond within the period stipulated in the show cause order shall be construed as a waiver of the officials’ right to explain, and DPWH shall resolve the matter based on the records and evidence available.

DPWH-11 has yet to issue a statement regarding the show cause orders, as of this writing.