BY GEROME DALIPE IV
ILOILO City – The City Council has declared Engr. Roy Pacanan, officer-in-charge of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) – Iloilo City District Engineering Office, persona non grata.
The city councilors voted for such a declaration during their session on June 10, which aligned with the stance of Mayor Jerry Treñas
Such a decision stems from what Treñas perceived as disrespect and ingratitude from Pacanan and the DPWH city district office.
The conflict escalated when the DPWH city district office vacated a city-owned property at Fort San Pedro without acknowledging their long-term use of the city-owned land and the delays of their projects, which Treñas described as “white elephants” or costly to maintain, but little to no useful return.
The council approved the resolution declaring Pacanan persona non grata “for his role in the extreme delay in vacating the DPWH Iloilo City District Engineering Office and in the construction of important infrastructure projects in the city, as well as other actions detrimental to the general welfare of the Ilonggo people.”
“District engineer (Roy) Pacanan has also approved several projects in the City’s territorial jurisdiction that have been completed despite lacking the necessary permits, demonstrating a clear disregard not only of the proper regulatory procedure but of the safety of the residents of the city,” read the resolution.
Essentially, if a person is declared persona non grata, it means they are not welcome or are unwelcome in a particular place or community.
In this case, the City Council’s declaration of the DPWH Iloilo district engineer as persona non grata indicates that he is considered unwelcome in Iloilo City.
The declaration came despite Pacanan’s apology to Treñas for the delay in vacating the premises owned by the city government at Fort San Pedro.
In his letter dated June 7, Pacanan expressed his gratitude to the mayor for allowing them to use the property as their office for the past 40 years.
“We sincerely apologize for the inadvertent delays incurred in the transition caused by the heavy workload, not to mention the numerous equipment, heavy materials, and properties that need to be relocated in our temporary office,” said Pacanan.
The DPWH-City District Office vacated the city-owned property that used to be occupied by the agency at the Fort San Pedro barely after six demands.
Treñas sent a letter dated May 31 to Pacanan to leave the premises and remove all their equipment, vehicles, and other instruments on a city-owned property. The agency vacated the premises last week.
“We cannot work with people who do not respect the highest elected official of the city government. Furthermore, many district projects are white elephants and have continued to be so for several years now. Let us call a spade a spade. Enough of these kinds of public servants,” he said.
Apart from such a declaration, the City Council also approved a separate resolution revoking the approvals issued to DPWH-Iloilo City District Engineering Office (ICDEO) over seven projects in the city.
The resolution, sponsored by Councilor Johnny Young, chairperson of the council’s Committee on Engineering, Construction & Public Works, revoked the DPWH city district office on projects including the Mandurriao public market and six multi-purpose buildings in various barangays.
Young noted the delays in DPWH city district office’s projects ‘promptly, resulting in significant delays, budget overruns, and public inconvenience.”
“The delays in the completion of infrastructure projects have adversely impacted economic activities, disrupted daily lives, and undermined public trust in the government’s ability to deliver essential services,” the resolution read./PN
