Joselito Malig

Article (news)

Job Manahan

ABS-CBN News

MANILA -- The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) on Tuesday assured the Senate’s finance subcommittee that it does not have any ghost projects under its peace infrastructure program, as the current administration zeroes in on corruption in flood control programs.The OPAPRU is asking for a budget of nearly P7.3 billion next year, a huge chunk or P5 billion of which is allocated for its PAyapa at MAsaganang PamayaNAn or “Pamana” infrastructure projects.The Pamana program is the government’s flagship intervention for peace and development in conflict-affected areas. This sought to “address the root causes of armed conflict,” according to Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito G. Galvez, Jr.During the Senate’s budget deliberations for OPAPRU, Galvez said both the local government units and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) are in charge of implementing these infrastructure programs.“Yung project ng DPWH hindi pwedeng ma-implement tulad ng bridge kasi special tech ang bridge. Hindi kaya ng LGU ang bridges. In order for us to be safe, nilalagay natin sa DPWH ang bridges at critical infra na hindi kaya ng LGU,” said Galvez.But Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa asked the peace adviser if he was sure there are no ghost projects under the Pamana program, to which Galvez answered in the negative.“Rest assured mayroon tayong local monitoring. Yung ating mga projects ang local monitoring natin is Armed Forces of the Philippines, mga brigade commanders, yung mga PNP, yung battalion commanders natin including the religious,” the peace adviser responded.Dela Rosa, meanwhile, told the official that he was not doubting his statements. He said he only mentioned the topic since he came from the Blue Ribbon Committee, which is probing anomalous flood control projects in the next room.“Imposibleng  may ghost projects, 5 kayo diyan. Lima kayo diyan, imposibleng makalusot ang ghost projects na yan,” he said.Galvez said local government units continue to monitor the developments of these infrastructure projects, noting their “ownership.” He also described these projects as a type of investment to show their “legacy.”“Ang mga projects na ito ay requested ng governors,” he said.“Yung MILF at MNLF, pati ang parties involved, binabantayan nila kasi para sa kanila yan eh. Kumbaga ang checks and balances, multiple. Pati ang ownership kasi sa returning rebels and families yan, at ELCAC barangays ang target natin diyan,” he said.Roads under the Pamana project are strategically connecting barangay and even municipal roads to national ones, he said.The Pamana program aims to implement 176 infrastructure projects for next year, he said. This includes the construction of following:- 7 Agricultural Productivity Support- 16 Bridges- 33 Community Infrastructure-17 Electrification channels- 4 Housing Projects- 91 Roads- 18 Water SystemFor Galvez, these infrastructure seeks to sustain the country’s peace investments and gains, “ultimately cultivating the attainment of meaningful and lasting peace development.”He also said this would boost local communities’ economy.

The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) on Tuesday assured the Senate’s finance subcommittee that it does not have any ghost projects under its peace infrastructure program, as the current administration zeroes in on corruption in flood control programs.

The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) on Tuesday assured the Senate’s finance subcommittee that it does not have any ghost projects under its peace infrastructure program, as the current administration zeroes in on corruption in flood control programs.

No ghost projects in OPAPRU’s ‘Pamana’ infra projects, Galvez says

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No ghost projects in OPAPRU’s ‘Pamana’ infra projects, Galvez says

Job Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published Sep 23, 2025 04:29 PM PHT

Read More:

OPAPRU

peace process

Pamana

infrastructure projects

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