Philippine Agriculture Secretary Files Complaint Over P94 Million 'Ghost' Roads
DA files complaint over P94-M ‘ghost’ farm-to-market road in Davao Occ.
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Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel has lodged complaints with the Office of the Ombudsman against officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and private contractors for allegedly constructing non-existent farm-to-market roads in Davao Occidental, valued at P94 million. The complaints involve six DPWH officials and eight contractors linked to the 2021 national budget.
- 01The complaints include eight cases against six officials from the DPWH, including district and project engineers.
- 02The alleged ghost projects were funded through the 2021 national budget.
- 03Laurel conducted site inspections, stating, 'There are dirt roads, but there is no cement, no steel, nothing.'
- 04The complaints highlight issues of accountability in government-funded infrastructure projects.
- 05This incident follows previous concerns raised about similar ghost road projects worth P125 million.
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Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel has formally filed complaints with the Office of the Ombudsman regarding alleged fraudulent farm-to-market road (FMR) projects in Davao Occidental, Philippines, amounting to P94 million. The complaints target six officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and eight private contractors, accusing them of constructing non-existent roads funded by the 2021 national budget. Laurel reported that during his inspections of the sites, he found no evidence of the promised infrastructure, stating, 'There are dirt roads, but there is no cement, no steel, nothing.' This situation raises serious concerns about accountability and transparency in government-funded projects, particularly in the agricultural sector. The filing of these complaints follows earlier reports of similar ghost road projects worth P125 million, indicating a broader issue within the infrastructure development process in the region.
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This situation could lead to increased scrutiny of government infrastructure projects, potentially affecting future funding and oversight.
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