Court Cases Filed Over ₱186.8 Million 'Ghost' Projects in the Philippines

May 21, 2026

72 min

May 21, 2026 08:31

Filipino farmers waited for roads, flood defences that never came: Court cases filed over ₱186.8 million ‘ghost’ projects

## Infrastructure Scandal Unveiled

In the Philippines, a major scandal has emerged involving infrastructure projects that were paid for but never constructed. These "ghost" projects, valued at ₱186.8 million, include farm-to-market roads and flood defenses that were supposed to benefit local farmers and communities.

## Legal Actions Initiated

The Philippine government has initiated legal proceedings against public works officials and private contractors. The Department of Agriculture (DA) has filed multiple complaints after a thorough investigation revealed that these projects were certified as completed, despite no actual construction taking place.

## Specific Projects Under Scrutiny

Two significant projects are at the center of the controversy: a ₱94 million farm-to-market road in Davao Occidental and a ₱92.8 million flood defense project in Pandi, Bulacan. Investigations have shown that these projects were paid in full, yet no physical infrastructure exists.

## Widespread Issue

Nationwide inspections have identified 472 suspected "ghost" projects, with 14 confirmed as non-existent. Legal cases have been filed against several lawmakers and officials for plunder and graft.

## Impact on Farmers

The missing infrastructure has severely impacted farming communities, depriving them of essential roads that would reduce transport costs and improve market access. The DA continues to investigate other potential "ghost" projects across the country.

## Government Response

The Marcos administration is intensifying scrutiny of infrastructure projects to prevent further misuse of public funds. The DA is also examining whether local agriculture personnel were involved in these fraudulent activities.

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