No ghost projects in Metro Manila? Hontiveros shows 'before-and-after' photos
MANILA, Philippines — While Bulacan has been a focal point for alleged ghost flood control projects, Sen. Risa Hontiveros on Tuesday flagged questionable projects worth P119.15 million in Quezon City.
At the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on September 23, Hontiveros cited two drainage rehabilitation projects: a P48.24-million effort in Barangay Tatalon and a P70.91-million project in Barangay South Triangle.
Photos of the Tatalon project taken in February 2024 and September 2025 showed little change, she said. The same was true for the South Triangle project.
“Halos walang pagkakaiba ang dalawang photo. Pintura lang,” Hontiveros said. (There is no difference between the two photos. Just the paint.)
Both projects were handled by JJPR Construction, according to Hontiveros.
Quezon City District Engineer Johnny Protesta of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) denied any anomaly. He said he approved the projects, which covered manhole rehabilitation, unclogging, dredging and replacing the grating. Repainting the sidewalks was also part of the project.
But Hontiveros questioned how such work could cost tens of millions. Protesta insisted that pricing documents were in order and promised to submit them to the committee.
300 city projects flagged
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte earlier flagged 300 DPWH projects that were not properly coordinated with the local government.
Asked about this, Protesta admitted to Hontiveros some lapses in coordination. He said offices secured permits for vertical structures like buildings but failed to do so for horizontal projects such as flood control.
“Naging concern lang po is parang naging priority po yung building,” Protesta said. (The concern was that the buildings were prioritized.)
He insisted there were no ghost projects in Metro Manila.
“Masasabi ko po, wala pong ghost projects dito,” Protesta said. (I can say that there are no ghost projects here.)
To which Hontiveros replied: "We’ll get back to that."
- Latest
- Trending
