Conflicting figures and inconsistent information attributed to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on alleged “ghost” and substandard projects in Davao Occidental and La Union have stirred public confusion and prompted questions about possible bias in how data are being handled and released.
People familiar with internal discussions said the DPWH is preparing complaints for filing before the Office of the Ombudsman against contractors and officials linked to questioned flood-control and other infrastructure works.
At the same time, discrepancies between internal tallies and numbers cited in print reports, including the Daily Tribune, have led to criticism and calls for the agency to issue a single, verified list of cases under review.
While both provinces appear in internal reports, local officials in Davao Occidental said the province has received disproportionate media attention compared with other areas flagged.
One provincial official, who asked not to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter, said they “welcome any legitimate investigation,” but argued that apparent inconsistencies in publicly shared data “have painted an unfair picture and stirred unnecessary political interpretations.”
Officials questioned why a 2021 Davao Occidental project continues to be spotlighted despite what they described as prior impartial reviews that found no irregularities. They suggested the extended focus risks being read as politically motivated; these claims could not be independently verified.
Governance analysts warned that uneven or evolving figures, common in multi-agency probes, can erode trust if not clearly labeled and time-stamped, especially when allegations, audits, and formal complaints are at different stages.
They urged the DPWH to publish harmonized, machine-readable case summaries that distinguish between projects “flagged,” “endorsed,” and “filed,” and to synchronize communications with oversight bodies to avoid misinterpretation.
As of press time, the DPWH had yet to release a consolidated, verified roster of projects subject to investigation.
The Ombudsman review is expected to begin once formal complaints are submitted, according to people familiar with the matter.
Business News Asia