ILOILO City – To prevent duplication, wasted funds, and project mishaps, Councilor Rex Marcus Sarabia is seeking the passage of an ordinance that would compel national government agencies to secure a Certificate of Coordination from the Iloilo City Government before implementing projects in the city.
Sarabia said the measure is crucial in ensuring that national projects complement, rather than conflict with, the city’s development blueprint.
“Kinahanglan nga may koordinasyon anay ang national agencies sa aton syudad antes sila magpatuman sang proyekto. Paagi sini, masiguro naton nga nagasanto ini sa plano sang syudad kag malikawan ang problema sa implementasyon,” Sarabia stressed.
The proposed ordinance will primarily cover infrastructure projects and related programs.
It was prompted by findings in a recent City Council quad committee hearing showing several Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) projects carried out without proper coordination with city planners.
“Nakita ta nga madamo sang proyekto ang ginapatuman sang DPWH nga wala nagagiya sa city planning. Amo ini nga nagaluntad ang problema, labi na gid sa tion sang implementasyon,” Sarabia said.
In his privilege speech, the councilor also called on Iloilo City Lone District’s Cong. Julienne “Baronda and Uswag Ilonggo party-list’s Cong. James “Jojo” Ang to push for national legislative reforms that would tighten safeguards on project approvals.
He cited the lack of strong national laws governing the issuance of Environmental Compliance Certificates (ECC) and Certificates of Non-Coverage (CNC), particularly for projects impacting rivers and other water bodies.
“May kakulangan sa aton national laws nga naga-guide sa pagkuha sang ECC kag CNC. Importante nga protektado ang interes sang pumuluyo kag ang aton environment,” Sarabia emphasized.
Sarabia likewise raised concern over the practice of phased or sectional project implementation, which he warned could be used to circumvent budgetary limits.
“Kung ginahimo ini nga phased implementation, may posibilidad nga mahimo pa nga ghost projects. Kinahanglan klarohon kag may transparency ang proseso,” he said./PN
