President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said he was “very angry” upon seeing the so-called ‘ghost project’ in Baliwag, Bulacan.
During an inspection on Wednesday, August 20, Marcos was left in great dismay upon seeing that the 220-meter flood control project had yet to be constructed. RH Leth Narciso said that reports indicate the riverwall project was marked as completed and fully paid in June.
“I’m getting very angry, that’s what’s happening here. Biruin mo…wala talaga 220-meter, PHP 55 million, completed ang record ng public works. Walang ginawa kahit isang araw hindi nagtrabaho wala,” Marcos expressed. “Kahit puntahan niyo wala kayong makikita. Tuloy-tuloy ang pagbaha doon sa kabila.”
“If all these projects were properly executed and implemented, ang laki na nawala na problema sana sa atin at sa mga taumbayan,” he added.
Based on the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) records, the construction company responsible for the said project is SYMS Construction Trading. It is based in Malolos, Bulacan, with Sally Nicolas Santos as the owner, proprietor, and authorized managing officer.
The said company is involved in various construction projects like road rehabilitation and construction of multi-purpose buildings.
Meanwhile, Narciso reported that two of the contractors were pointing fingers, stating that construction for one of the projects had already begun. However, this cannot be completed without starting the other one beforehand.
One of the project’s contracts was also reportedly missing, partly because district engineers in the area were often replaced. There were also a lot of subcontractors listed.
Marcos vowed to hold accountable those responsible for the ‘ghost projects’, saying that such projects would lead to economic sabotage if they continued.
In a social media post, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) revealed official receipts proving that the DPWH Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office had paid over PHP 55 million to Syms Construction Trading for the flood control project in Barangay Piel, Baliwag, Bulacan.
Subsequently, Marcos said in a social media post that the officials who authorized and conspired with the ghost project will be suspended and charged for violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and the malversation of public funds through falsification of public documents.
The SYMS Construction Trading will be immediately blacklisted and will face charges under the Revised Penal Code and Republic Act No. 3019.
“Mahigit ₱55 milyon ang binayad para sa concrete river wall. Bayad na mula pa noong Hunyo, pero sa inspeksyon, wala ni isang hollow block na makita,” Marcos wrote. “At hindi pa ito kasama sa listahan ng flood control projects na isinumite ng DPWH. Bakit ito itinago? Hindi na kayo nahiya! Hindi natin palalampasin ito.”
Earlier in August, Marcos revealed that five out of 15 contractors had flood control projects in almost all regions nationwide. Raising a disturbing statistic, Marcos said that 20% of the entire budget went to these contractors.
