The Philippine Department of Justice has confirmed the existence of at least 14 "ghost projects" for flood control—public works that were funded and listed in official plans but were never built on the ground.

The disclosure adds pressure to an anti-corruption drive launched by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who last September authorized an independent panel to investigate irregularities in flood infrastructure projects over the past decade. The so-called Infrastructure Integrity Committee (ICI) was formed after a series of exposés on fictitious projects last August triggered public outrage and nationwide anti-graft protests demanding accountability.

How many "ghost flood control projects" are there in the Philippines?

Justice officials stated that some cases have already been filed with the anti-graft court, while others remain under preliminary investigation. Meanwhile, the Department of Public Works and Highways said an additional 421 flood control projects are undergoing physical verification to determine if they, too, are nonexistent.

Philippine flood control failure, corruption liquidation and accountability

In a statement on January 16, President Marcos indicated that the ICI's work was "nearing its conclusion," asserting that "all matters requiring investigation have been completed." The probe has unfolded amid a wider political reckoning, leading to the resignation of former House Speaker Martin Romualdez—a cousin of the president—and the ouster of former Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, both linked to separate corruption scandals.

The expanding investigation into phantom infrastructure highlights persistent governance challenges as the administration attempts to reassure the public over the use of public funds for critical disaster prevention projects.Editor/Cao Tianyi