Kayagon
da…
Some individuals regard ghosts merely as constructs of the
imagination—psychological projections shaped by fear and cultural narratives.
However, in the Philippine context, 'ghost projects' assume a tangible reality,
referring to unfinished or abandoned initiatives that persist as remnants of
inefficiency, poor planning, or misaligned priorities.
Alexis Romero of The Philippine Star reported that President Marcos
inspected the P55.73-million reinforced concrete river wall project in Baliuag
City yesterday after receiving a complaint through the website sumbongsapangulo.ph
about a non-existent project. While records from the Department of Public Works
and Highways indicated that the 220-meter structure was fully paid and
completed as of June, the President found otherwise, noting the absence of
materials, equipment, or any sign of construction. “We did not see even a
single hollow block or a piece of cement. There is no equipment here. This is a
ghost project. No work was done here,” Marcos told reporters.
If ghosts are meant to frighten us, then where should our fear truly be
directed? At the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), which seems
aware yet chooses silence? At the contractors, struggling to survive under the
weight of a broken system? Or should we reserve our loudest screams for the
politicians who conjure these phantoms and allow ghost projects to thrive?
Ghost projects highlight systemic problems of governance,
accountability, and transparency in public infrastructure. Official records may
claim completion, but on-site inspections often reveal otherwise, suggesting
not simple error but strategic misrepresentation—deliberate distortions of
costs, timelines, or accomplishments to serve political or institutional
interests (Flyvbjerg, Skamris Holm, & Buhl, 2013).
This perspective highlights that ghost projects are not isolated
anomalies but manifestations of deeper structural problems in public works
administration, where political gain and survival often outweigh genuine
service delivery.
The issue gained urgency when recent floods struck the National Capital
Region, raising doubts about the reliability of other infrastructure projects
such as roads and school buildings. It also calls attention to broader concerns
in government programs, where lapses in accountability may leave projects
vulnerable to inefficiency or misuse of resources.
At the heart of it is greed. It is deeply rooted in selfishness and the
willingness to embrace what is harmful, as it prioritizes personal gain over
the collective good. When the pursuit of power or wealth overshadows the
welfare of others, the greater good is pushed aside, leaving communities to
suffer the consequences of neglected responsibilities and misplaced priorities.
Greed has long been examined as a destructive force that undermines
ethical decision-making and social welfare. Balot (2021) explains that greed,
while often normalized in political and economic systems, is fundamentally
corrosive because it elevates self-interest at the expense of communal
well-being. In governance, this tendency manifests in corruption and misuse of
resources, where the pursuit of personal or political gain overshadows the
moral responsibility to serve the public good.
Those in positions of power are often driven by an insatiable desire to
preserve authority, a tendency that can marginalize the poor and vulnerable.
Critical voices are frequently construed as threats, resulting in the silencing
or discrediting of dissent. Such dynamics reflect how unchecked ambition, and
the misuse of influence perpetuate systems of domination, where the
consolidation of power becomes more important than the equitable advancement of
society.
Yet, we believe that what goes around comes around, for actions rooted
in greed and abuse of power eventually return to confront those who commit
them. History shows that injustice, no matter how long it persists, often
collapses under its own weight.
In the end, ghost projects, much like floods, reveal what lies beneath
the surface, exposing the cracks of greed and neglect. What is hidden will
eventually rise.
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