BY GEROME DALIPE IV
ILOILO City – Mayor Jerry Treñas expressed disappointment at the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) – City District Engineering Office for what he perceived as the office’s ingratitude.
“After using the city’s property for so long, we had to do everything to make them leave. They left without even thanking the city for using the city property or even apologizing for the tremendous delay,” said Treñas.
The DPWH-City District Office vacated on June 6 the city-owned property that it used to occupy at the Fort San Pedro.
Such came after Treñas sent a letter dated May 31 ordering Engr. De Roy Pacanan, DPWH Iloilo City district engineer, to leave the premises and remove all their equipment, vehicles, and other instruments.
“Wala gid pasalamat sa kadugayon nga usar nila dira kag sa duta hatag sang ciudad sa ila,” the mayor lamented.
Treñas then announced his intention to cancel all DPWH-City Engineering District projects on city-owned lots such as the ongoing construction of the Mandurriao public market, all multi-purpose buildings, and other similar projects.
“All these projects are delayed. The city will look for funds to complete the projects. Extreme prejudice has resulted in the residents of the city due to the delay of these projects,” said Treñas.
Three years ago, the city government donated a 2.5-hectare lot to the DPWH city engineering district in Barangay Sooc in the Arevalo district since the city needed its property in Fort San Pedro.
The DPWH City Engineering District said lack of water and the slow processing of their electrical application delayed their transfer to Sooc.
“However, upon verification, we have discovered that no application for electrical connection has been submitted with the city’s power distributor. The City of Iloilo cannot be put at the mercy of this factor,” according to Treñas.
The office vacated by the DPWH will now house the city’s Traffic Management Unit (TMU), which will also transfer from their previous office at the ICARE building near the mall in La Paz district.
Likewise, the mayor said they will soon transfer the city-run Iloilo City Community College (ICCC) in Molo district to the property vacated by the DPWH city engineering district.
“We need additional classrooms since there are now many enrollees. A development plan is being prepared by the city architect and once complete will be shown to the public,” said Treñas.
Likewise, Treñas said he would inquire from the DPWH City District Office why the construction of its building in Barangay Sooc has not been completed despite the millions of funds allocated by the national government./PN
