SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union – Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-Ilocos Director Ronnel Tan has assured the public that there are no “ghost projects” in the region.

Tan, in a press conference on Wednesday, said they are strictly enforcing quality assurance measures and project inspections.

"We are strict about quality assurance before the agency pays the (contractor of the) project. We have an inspection team, composed of all division chiefs—construction, maintenance, planning—as well as the quality assurance unit," he said, adding that they also conduct random inspections on projects.

Tan denied corruption or substandard works, attributing infrastructure damage to disasters and topographical changes caused by previous calamities like earthquakes.

The repairs for infrastructure damage, he said, are covered by a five-year warranty after project completion and are borne by the contractors.

Tan said the agency's personnel are also engaged in ongoing education through upgrading, training, and seminars to adapt to new technology and the impacts of climate change in project implementations.

Amid the controversy involving the agency, Tan said this does not represent the entire DPWH.

"Ang aking pananaw sa tao yan. Nasa conviction kapag ang tao takot gumawa ng masama 'di niya gagawin (Based on my perspective, it depends on the person. It is in his conviction if the person is afraid to do wrong, then he or she will not do it)," he said.

He emphasized that they continue to work in accordance with the objectives of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

"Ang aming objective ay i-deliver sa tao ang kailangang imprastraktura gaya ng gusto ng Pangulo para mapagaan ang buhay ng mga tao (Our objective is to deliver to the people the needed infrastructure like what the President wants, to ease people's lives)," he said.

As of Aug. 27, the DPWH regional office completed 145 projects, with 1,716 ongoing and 287 not yet started, out of 2,148 projects this year funded with P49.8 billion. (PNA)