‘Ghost projects’ or mapping failure? Contractors push back over glitches

Several government contractors are contesting their inclusion in alleged “ghost project” lists, saying completed infrastructure is being treated as nonexistent due to incorrect coordinates and errors in the government’s mapping system.

Contractors interviewed said some projects are fully built and already in use by residents, yet appear in digital tracking platforms as either misplaced or not found. “Tapos na, ginagamit na, pero sa system nila wala,” one contractor said, describing how finished infrastructure disappears in official monitoring.

They maintain that not all contractors are ghost contractors and that most are registered and compliant. The issue, they argue, begins when wrong coordinates enter the system, causing reports to show that a project does not exist on site even if turnover and documentation are complete. “Hindi kami kalaban dito. Hindi kami ghost contractor. May trinabaho at output kami. Pero pati kami naiipit,” another contractor added.

Because of the mapping glitches, some projects have been stalled or delayed while paperwork is processed. Construction slows down, schedules are disrupted, and supply and manpower flow are affected.

Contractors are calling for the government to immediately fix its geotag and mapping verification system to prevent legitimate projects from being dragged into ghost project allegations. They warn that if the system is not corrected, ghost contractors and corruption will have more room to slip through.