ILOILO City – Mayor Raisa Treñas has blamed unfinished and poorly planned infrastructure projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways – Iloilo City District Engineering Office (DPWH-ICDEO) for aggravating severe flooding in Jaro district, vowing that the city will step in if national agencies fail to deliver.
The mayor pointed to the abandoned drainage project in Barangay Lanit and the controversial Buntatala Creek development, both of which, she said, left residents of Lanit, Camalig, Tagbak, Buntatala, and nearby barangays vulnerable to disaster.
“Ginakasubo gid naton makita ang sitwasyon sang mga unfinished projects sa Jaro nga nangin rason sang malala nga pagbaha. These projects should have protected the people, not endangered them,” Treñas said during an inspection yesterday.
Former Barangay Lanit captain Simplicio Subaldo echoed the frustration, stressing that the radial road drainage — designed to divert water from the Aganan and Tigum rivers into the Jaro floodway — could have prevented the floods if only the DPWH had finished it.
“Kon nahuman kuntani, amo ini ang masalo sang tubig halin sa irigasyon kag indi na paghalinan sang pagbaha sa mga barangay,” Subaldo said.
Only one kilometer has been completed, leaving 145 linear meters unfinished after work was halted five months into construction, he pointed out.
Treñas warned the city will not let the project remain idle.
“Pangitaan sang paagi nga mahuman. Kung indi ma-budgetan sang DPWH, ang syudad na mismo ang magapangita sang pondo,” she said.
The mayor also raised concerns about the Buntatala Creek project, which includes a bike lane and esplanade. She criticized DPWH-ICDEO for exceeding the planned width and failing to consult with the city and affected barangays.
“Ang pamangkot subong: paano ini nangin access road kun wala man malutsan nga alagyan ang mga tawo diri?” Treñas asked, noting barangay captains have complained of worsened flooding since the project began.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), which joined the ocular inspection, admitted there are still questions on the project’s legality and classification.
“May nagasiling irrigation canal siya, may nagakabig naman nga creek. Importante ini nga ma-identify sakto antes magpadayon ang proyekto,” said Community Environment and Natural Resources Officer Armin Halili.
Halili clarified that while the law allows government projects to use waterways for public purposes, boundaries must be clearly established.
“Ginapahanugotan sang kasuguan ang proyekto sang gobyerno para sa gamit sang publiko sa easement sang waterways,” he said, citing the Iloilo River esplanade as precedent./PN
