Rep. Romualdez denies any wrongdoings

TACLOBAN CITY —A former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) official have denied allegations that a P100-million farm-to-market road (FMR) project in Tacloban City was overpriced or politically influenced.
The controversy stems from Senator Sherwin Gatchalian’s earlier claim during a Senate budget hearing that the FMR connecting Barangays Bagacay and San Roque was allegedly overpriced and linked to Romualdez, who served as House Speaker before stepping down earlier this year.
However, Rebecca Yuse, former head of the Tacloban City District Engineering Office (TCDEO), rejected the allegation, saying the project was legitimate, validated, and properly funded through the Department of Agriculture (DA) under its Farm-to-Market Road Development Program (FMRDP).
“It is not correct. The former Speaker has no role in this project as it was the DA Regional Office that identified and funded it,” Yuse said in an interview.
Yuse, who oversaw the start of the project in September 2024, said it is now 92 percent complete and is expected to be finished by October 30, 2025.
She clarified that about P20 million of the total cost was allocated for the remaining 287 meters of road works, including slope protection and drainage systems in Barangay San Roque—components essential in a mountainous area.
“The amount was not solely for road construction. The terrain required major excavation, slope protection, and drainage canals to ensure the safety and stability of the road,” Yuse explained.
A joint DPWH–DA report classified both the Bagacay and San Roque FMRs as mountain-type projects, which require heavy excavation, embankment, and concrete drainage structures due to steep topography.
“These works explain the cost difference compared with flatland FMRs. They are necessary for durability and the safety of motorists and farmers,” Yuse added.
The report also noted that the P25-million Bagacay FMR project, covering 0.64 lane kilometers, has already been validated but remains pending due to right-of-way issues involving the Department of Health–Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care (PITAHC) and the Manobo Tribe.
“The project remains valid and beneficial once implemented, as it addresses a critical infrastructure need for the agricultural community,” the DPWH narrative report stated.
Yuse also dismissed insinuations that the Tacloban FMR was a “ghost project.”
“I personally visited the area several times. The project exists and is nearing completion. There were no ghost projects under my watch,” she said, adding that she retired from government service in June this year.
Meanwhile, Rep. Romualdez appeared before the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) on October 14, where he denied any wrongdoing not only in the Tacloban FMR but also in other public works projects.
The DPWH and DA have both affirmed that the Tacloban FMRs were implemented under the DA’s Farm-to-Market Road Development Program, jointly managed with the DPWH to strengthen farm-to-market access and support local food production.
JOEY A. GABIETA