By CESAR JOLITO III
The Council for Concerned Citizens (C3) is set to release this week its partial report on their ongoing investigation into various flood control projects across Negros Occidental.
In a radio interview yesterday, C3 convener Atty. Ceasar Beloria said their probe has been extensive, covering infrastructure projects implemented from 2022 to 2025, which explains why only 16 projects have been inspected so far.
Beloria added that C3 has sought the cooperation of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), particularly on documents used by the agency as a basis for declaring that there are no “ghost projects” in Bacolod City.
According to him, it is possible that the NBI’s assessment relied mainly on information provided by district engineers invited to the bureau’s office.
C3 is now appealing to the NBI to share copies of the evidence it has gathered related to the flood control projects, to ensure transparency and consistency in findings.
Irregularities in P96.5-million Bacolod-Himamaylan project
The group is also scrutinizing the P96.5-million Phase 1 flood control project that was supposed to be implemented in Bacolod City’s Barangay Sum-ag but was instead found located in Negros Occidental’s Himamaylan City.
Beloria pointed out an irregularity in the project’s sequencing, as Phase 2 of the same flood control project — amounting to P49 million — was completed as early as January 2023, while the Phase 1 project only started in February 2023 and was completed in June 2024.
“The reversal of sequencing contradicts the natural order of phased projects,” Beloria said, noting that such discrepancies warrant further scrutiny.
He added that the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) – Bacolod Lone District Engineering Office may be held accountable if it is proven that Bacolod’s district office paid for a project located in another local government unit.
However, Beloria clarified that C3 is not concluding that the project is a “ghost project.”
“Our only request is cooperation from the NBI and DPWH so that the truth can come out,” he stressed./CJ, WDJ