A VIRAL video showing a project tarpaulin for a P49-million road in Barangay Manipis, Talisay City, without any visible construction, ignited public speculation about a “ghost project.”
The video, captured by trail riders early this week, prompted Talisay City Mayor Gerald Anthony “Samsam” Gullas Jr. to demand an explanation from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 7 on Friday, Sept. 26, 2025. The DPWH 7 has since clarified that the project has only been suspended.
How it got here
The project in question is a road opening intended to connect Sitio Campinsa to Barangay Manipis. Handled by contractor QM Builders, it broke ground on May 13, 2024, under a DPWH infrastructure program.
The controversy arose because the tarpaulin at the site still displayed the original completion date of Dec. 7, 2024, leading the trail riders to question why no work had been done nearly a year later.
Gullas clarified that the Talisay City Government is not the implementing agency and was not even informed that the project had been suspended.
Why was the project suspended
According Leslie Anthony Molina, district engineer of the DPWH 7 2nd Engineering District, the project was halted after the agency ran into significant legal and regulatory hurdles.
He said the work was suspended when they discovered issues with the road right-of-way involving property owners along the route.
As the project lies within the Central Cebu Protected Landscape, it requires an environmental compliance certificate (ECC) from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and a permit from the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) before it can proceed.
Molina admitted in an interview with radio XFM Cebu on Friday that these issues were only identified after equipment had already been brought to the site.
Gullas, while supporting the project’s goal, criticized the lack of transparency from the DPWH 7. He argued that if a project is suspended, the public signage should be updated to prevent misunderstanding and accusations of corruption.
What’s at stake
Beyond the online furor, the delay has real-world consequences. The new road is designed to be a crucial alternate route, especially since the main Manipis road is frequently closed due to landslides during heavy rains.
The suspension of the project leaves residents and commuters without a reliable alternative, posing safety risks.
The incident also highlights a lapse in project planning, raising questions about why essential permits and right-of-way clearances were not secured before the project was launched. Molina confirmed that the budget remains largely untouched, except for a 15 percent mobilization fund released to the contractor, which is standard procedure.
What we don’t know yet
There is no clear timeline for when the DPWH 7 expects to secure the required ECC and PAMB permits. It is also uncertain how long the negotiations with property owners for the right-of-way will take. Finally, it is not clear what will happen to the mobilization fund already paid to the contractor if the project remains suspended indefinitely.
What to look ahead
The project is at a standstill until the DPWH 7 can navigate the bureaucratic maze. The agency must secure the necessary environmental clearances and successfully negotiate with all affected landowners. In the meantime, Gullas has urged the DPWH 7 to improve its communication and ensure project signage accurately reflect the real-time status of the agency’s work to maintain public trust. / CAV