The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region 8 has firmly denied the existence of ghost projects in Eastern Visayas, pushing back against recurring allegations that have cast doubt on infrastructure programs in parts of Leyte and Samar.
DPWH-8 Regional Director Edgar Tabacon made the agency’s position clear: there are no ghost projects in the region, and no officials are currently under investigation or facing charges related to corruption.
“As of now, no DPWH-8 official is being investigated or charged in connection with any allegations of ghost projects,” Tabacon said in a recent statement, emphasizing that the agency stands by the legitimacy of its ongoing and completed infrastructure works.
The statement comes in the wake of earlier controversies that surfaced in municipalities such as Albuera and Tanauan in Leyte, as well as areas in Samar, where critics previously questioned the status and physical existence of certain flood control and local infrastructure projects.
Those allegations fueled public skepticism and calls for greater transparency, particularly after national headlines highlighted so-called “ghost projects” in other regions of the country.
But Region 8, according to Tabacon, is not part of that narrative.
He clarified that delays observed in some projects were not the result of irregularities but rather practical and predictable obstacles.
“Project delays are due to unfavorable weather conditions and right-of-way issues,” he explained, noting that Eastern Visayas is frequently battered by heavy rains and typhoons that can significantly disrupt construction timelines.
Right-of-way acquisition, in particular, has long been a stumbling block for infrastructure development across the Philippines.
Disputes over land ownership, compensation negotiations, and documentation can stall even fully funded and properly awarded projects.
Tabacon stressed that these challenges should not be misconstrued as evidence of non-existent or fraudulent undertakings.
To reinforce its alleged commitment to transparency, DPWH Region 8 has ordered all district engineering offices to submit complete documentation of their projects to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Office of the Ombudsman.
The move is said to aim the allowance of thorough review and independent verification of project implementation across the region.
This directive, Tabacon said, emphasizes the agency’s confidence that all projects in Eastern Visayas are properly documented, funded, and monitored.
The regional office’s firm stance is significant, especially given the heightened scrutiny on public works spending nationwide.
Infrastructure projects, particularly flood control systems, are highly visible and politically sensitive, often becoming flashpoints for criticism when timelines slip or when documentation appears inconsistent with on-the-ground conditions.
In Eastern Visayas, where communities remain vulnerable to flooding and storm surges, the integrity of public works projects is not merely a matter of politics but of public safety.
DPWH Region 8’s leadership appears determined to confront allegations head-on rather than allow speculation to fester.
By opening its records to the NBI and the Ombudsman, the agency is signaling that it welcomes external review and is prepared to defend its track record.
For now, the message from Tacloban is unequivocal: there are no ghost projects in Region 8, only projects navigating the realities of weather, land acquisition, and the demanding terrain of public infrastructure.
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