Former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Ilocos regional director Engr. Ronnel Tan has strongly denied allegations that there are ghost projects in the region, including the now-questioned San Quintin–Bantay Road project in Ilocos Sur.
“Pagdating sa Region 1 kami sigurado wala kong ghost project dito. Natapos na ito ang verification ng lahat,” Tan said.
In an interview with DZRH News, Tan maintained that there was no anomaly in the implementation of the project, stressing that it is a multi-year undertaking and that its status has been reported in accordance with the approved project plan.
Tan said he stands by his position that there are no ghost projects in the Ilocos Region. He also clarified that the accreditation of law enforcement agencies in the region had already been completed.
According to him, investigations into alleged anomalies in flood control projects are being conducted nationwide, which is why he did not question his removal from office as part of the department-wide shake-up.
Tan added that he has been on leave since December 2025, which was supposed to run until February, to undergo a medical checkup.
Addressing reports that the San Quintin–Bantay Road project had been declared completed on paper despite ongoing construction, Tan explained that the project, which started in 2020, has a proposed budget of ₱1.1 billion and is scheduled for completion in 2027.
He said progress reports submitted by the DPWH are based on the annual budget allocation for the project. As such, a declaration of 100 percent completion in reports refers only to the full utilization of funds allocated for a specific year, not the completion of the entire project.
“May reporting kami based doon sa kung ano ang allocation sa isang taon, particular year. Kung halimbawa na may binabanggit sa news na may P94.5 million na na-release, hanggang ngayon hindi pa rin tapos. Pero sa papel, tapos na ang P94.5 million. Particular year po ng 94.5 na release, particular year ng P94.5 million, natapos na yun,” Tan said.
Because of this, Tan believes the reporting system should be revised to avoid confusion and to clearly distinguish between annual fund utilization and the overall completion status of projects.
He further disclosed that the San Quintin–Bantay Road project is currently about 68 percent complete and still requires an additional ₱378 million to be fully finished.
Tan is among four regional directors who were removed from their posts as part of the DPWH’s department-wide shake-up following its alleged involvement in the flood control scandal.
