THE RECENT flooding in five barangays of Iloilo City’s Jaro district has once again exposed a familiar yet infuriating reality: when infrastructure falters and lives are disrupted, the instinct of many public officials is to point fingers instead of finding common ground.
Mayor Raisa Treñas and Cong. Julienne Baronda have locked horns over the cause of the flooding that submerged parts of Tagbak, Balantang, Buntatala, Camalig, and Lanit. At the center of the blame game are ongoing Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) projects, some of which were facilitated through national funding under Baronda’s office. In turn, the city government has questioned the lack of coordination by the local DPWH engineering office.
But while accusations fly, communities remain vulnerable, and Buntatala Creek — a key natural drainage system — continues to choke on silt, garbage, and engineering neglect.
The July 17 DPWH incident report revealed that flooding occurred in the downstream portion of Buntatala Creek — outside the scope of current upstream projects. Engineers cited blocked waterways and possible illegal discharges. Meanwhile, the upstream site, where ongoing works are being blamed, actually showed improved water flow. In short, both sides may have a point — and neither side is entirely off the hook.
This is precisely why Iloilo City cannot afford governance by discord. Floodwaters do not distinguish between local and national jurisdiction, nor do they pause for political debate. They follow the laws of nature — and punish poor planning and weak cooperation.
The city’s vulnerability is not new. Much of Iloilo lies below sea level. Its drainage system is aging. Land subsidence continues. None of these issues can be addressed in isolation. Piecemeal projects — whether a slope protection here or a bike lane there — will never be enough if they are not part of an integrated flood mitigation master plan grounded in science, sustained funding, and shared responsibility.
What is urgently needed is a unified strategy. One that aligns city planning with national infrastructure programs. One that fosters open communication between local officials, national agencies, barangay leaders, and residents. And one that ensures all interventions — from creek widening to drainage redesign — are based on comprehensive geohazard assessments and climate resilience standards.
The mayor’s call to involve the DPWH and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) secretaries is a step in the right direction. But it must go beyond investigation and into the realm of coordination and long-term planning. Likewise, the congresswoman’s commitment to complete flood control projects must be coupled with a willingness to listen to local concerns and adjust where needed.
Iloilo City deserves more than reactive governance and public squabbles. It deserves a flood mitigation blueprint that puts people, not politics, at the center.
The next rain will come. The question is: will Iloilo City’s leaders be prepared — together?
