The local government of Jose Abad Santos in Davao Occidental has raised the possibility of other anomalous infrastructure projects in the town following the discovery of the ghost flood control project in Barangay Culaman.
“I can see from the post ng mga taga-JAS, ng mga Jasenyos, they are posting researches nila from the DPWH website of projects implemented sa JAS, and there are items there na we suspect na abandoned, or ghost project, or substandard. There are some projects,” Jose Abad Santos Mayor Jason John Joyce said.
Joyce added that coordination between the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the local government is lacking, leaving them surprised to discover certain constructions or repairs.
“Dili nato siya ma-question about anything because wala man sila’y ginabutang nga karatula like project title, or amount, project cost, date to start, date to end. Maybe, they should get our annual investment plan. ‘Yung mga document sa aming development council para ‘yun talaga ang mabigyan ng pondo,” Joyce added.
After the issue of ghost projects came to light, President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. ordered that implementation of national government projects should be coordinated strictly with local government units.
Residents in the town expressed hope that the discovery of the ghost flood control project would lead to real reforms in the implementation of national government projects.
“Sana hindi lang hanggang sa news. Sana hindi lang sensationalized. Sana hindi lang magamit sa pulitika itong isyu namin. Sana matugunan talaga ng pansin na after all of these issues, sana balikan ang Jose Abad Santos at tapusin ang mga dapat tapusin na proyekto,” Joyce said.
GHOST ROAD PROJECT?
Apart from the ghost flood control project, Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr. also revealed that there is an alleged ghost farm-to-market road project in the province. However, he did not specify the exact location.
Similar alleged ghost farm-to-market road projects were also found in Zamboanga del Norte.
“‘Yung initial report sa akin, may nakita kaming ghost ng Davao Occidental, in 2021-2022. Walang recent kaming nakikita. Medyo hindi siya ganun kalaki, in my opinion, pero meron kaming nakita sa Zamboanga del Norte, may kalye pero walang semento,” Laurel said.
DPWH was the implementing agency of the five-kilometer farm-to-market road project, which had a budget of P75 million.
The report is still subject for validation and will be submitted to the President.
DA-Davao has yet to release a statement pending the submission of Laurel’s report to the President. DPWH-11 has also yet to issue a statement regarding the issue, as of this writing.
GMA Regional TV One Mindanao is reaching out to the provincial government of Davao Occidental and Zamboanga del Norte regarding the alleged ghost farm-to-market road projects.
