ILOILO City – Iloilo City District Engineering Office (ICDEO) officer-in-charge Engr. Roy Pacanan was relieved from his post as part of a sweeping Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) reshuffle linked to an expanding flood control probe, with the agency citing failure to meet Civil Service Commission (CSC) qualification requirements for officers-in-charge.
Secretary Vince Dizon announced that Pacanan was among several OIC officials removed after being found not to have met CSC standards, as the department carried out a broad leadership reshuffle covering both regional and district levels amid expanding internal investigations.
“I will be announcing changes starting with the regions and some districts today. And the first announcement I will be making is the relief of four regional directors,” Dizon said during a press conference in Metro Manila, adding that the officials were relieved due to “ongoing investigations,” although he declined to disclose specific findings.
DPWH earlier confirmed that eight regional and district executives were relieved as the probe widened, including four regional directors and several assistant regional and district engineers.
Separately, the department also ordered the removal of OICs who did not meet CSC qualifications, naming Pacanan of the Iloilo City District Engineering Office, Sherylann Gonzales of the La Union 1st District Engineering Office, and Peter Scheller Soco of the Leyte 4th District Engineering Office.
Following the announcement, Iloilo City Lone District’s Cong. Julienne Baronda issued a statement defending Pacanan, stressing that his relief was not linked to alleged flood control anomalies or irregular projects.
“Engr. Pacanan’s professionalism, technical competence, and unwavering commitment to public service have been instrumental in the effective and timely implementation of critical infrastructure projects for Iloilo City,” Baronda said.
She emphasized that Pacanan “served with integrity, independence, and quiet strength,” and that his record remains untarnished by accusations of ghost projects or corruption.
Baronda added that Pacanan’s leadership showed “not only engineering excellence, but also moral courage — choosing fidelity to his sworn duty over submission to political pressure,” noting that he leaves his post “with his reputation intact, his honor unquestioned, and his service recognized.”
The DPWH has yet to announce Pacanan’s next assignment or identify his replacement, as the department continues its restructuring and review of flood control and other infrastructure projects nationwide.
Pacanan had previously been declared persona non grata twice by the city government — once through an executive order by then Mayor Jerry Treñas, and another through a resolution of the 11th Iloilo City Council – over delays in infrastructure projects and DPWH-ICDEO actions deemed detrimental to the welfare of Ilonggos.
A quad committee of the City Council investigated alleged dysfunctional flood control projects implemented by the DPWH-ICDEO.
Last year, Pacanan defended four major flood control undertakings in the city funded under the 2024 and 2025 General Appropriations Act, stressing that the works were “existing, progressing, and on schedule,” with completion rates ranging between 35% and 98%.
The projects, with a combined allocation of P1.2 billion, included:
* Improvement of the Jaro Floodway and Related Drainage Systems – 98% complete
* Rehabilitation of the Dungon Creek Flood Control Structure – 90% complete
* Expansion of the La Paz Drainage Network – 60% complete
* Upgrading of the Calajunan–Molo River Flood Protection Works – 35% complete
“These are not ghost projects. They are all on the ground, progressing according to their schedules, and will greatly improve the city’s flood mitigation capacity once completed,” Pacanan said.
He also said these projects were procured through open, competitive bidding and costed using the Construction Materials Price Database.
Pacanan cited improvements including replacing makeshift seawalls to mitigate erosion.
He also pointed to the Iloilo Comprehensive Flood Mitigation Project–Section 2 in Barangay Tacas, Jaro district as having already helped during recent typhoons./PN
