By CESAR JOLITO III
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) are jointly verifying the implementation of flood control projects in Negros Occidental amid allegations of “no ghost projects” in all districts.
NBI-Bacolod chief Manuel Fayre, Jr. said all six district engineering offices of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in the province have maintained that no ghost projects were implemented under their jurisdiction.
“All six district engineers claimed they are 100 percent sure that no ghost project was implemented in the province,” Fayre said.
“That is very good — if it is true,” he added.
According to Fayre, the district engineers have been “very cooperative” and have already complied with subpoenas directing them to submit lists of all infrastructure projects implemented from 2022 to 2025.
The NBI is now cross-checking these lists with data posted on the official DPWH website to ensure consistency and authenticity.
Fayre added that the bureau will issue another round of subpoenas to obtain geotagged documentation of completed and ongoing flood control projects for on-site verification.
He also said the NBI is enlisting the cooperation of communities where these flood control projects are located to further validate their existence.
Based on the bureau’s initial investigation, around 10 to 12 flood control projects are implemented annually in Negros Occidental.
Meanwhile, the NBI is set to launch the “Isumbong Mo Sa NBI” initiative in Negros Occidental, allowing the public to share information and report concerns regarding flood control projects.
Fayre said the agency will release phone numbers and accounts on messaging applications, where individuals can reach out to report issues related to the DPWH.
He emphasized that public feedback would be instrumental in the investigation of DPWH’s infrastructure projects, particularly those related to flood control.
The initiative aims to encourage public participation in the investigation and ensure transparency in government projects, Fayre said.
25 sites inspected
Meanwhile, the BCPO has conducted its own inspection of flood control projects within Bacolod.
BCPO Director Police Colonel Joeresty Coronica reported that out of the 53 flood control projects in the city, 25 sites have already been inspected.
“Wala sang may nakita nga ghost project ang Bacolod City Police Office sa ginpatigayon nga imbestigasyon,” Coronica said, confirming that the police, along with the Philippine Army, were tapped to help inspect the projects.
Coronica clarified, however, that the BCPO’s participation is not part of a full-blown investigation but rather a supporting role to document and photograph project sites, with reports to be forwarded to higher headquarters.
He added that the police are not in a position to determine whether the projects inspected are substandard or not, as their role is limited to verification and documentation.
The combined verification efforts of the NBI, DPWH and BCPO form part of a broader transparency initiative to ensure government infrastructure projects in Negros Occidental and Bacolod are authentic, completed and properly implemented./CJ, WDJ