ILOILO City – At least 21 flood control projects worth more than ₱2.7 billion in this city are real and visible on the ground, but many are far from completion and hounded by delays due to red tape, informal settlers, and overlapping government responsibilities, according to sources at the Department of Public Works and Highways – Iloilo City District Engineering Office (DPWH–ICDEO).
The sources, who declined to be named citing a gag order from the DPWH central office amid an ongoing probe into flood control projects, stressed that the so-called “ghost projects” are not fictitious.
“They exist. Some are nearly complete, others are stalled, but none are ghosts,” one insider said.
Projects and Problems
The projects were also designed in phases, according to sources. District offices can only implement projects worth up to ₱150 million. Anything higher requires approval from the regional office, forcing large-scale flood defenses to be broken into multiple contracts.
“This means a ₱500-million flood package has to be split into five ₱100-million sections, each bid out separately and with its own timetable,” a source explained. “It allows more projects to start each year, but finishing them becomes harder.”
Among these are:
* Mohon–Sto. Domingo Creek (Arevalo) – Phase 1 completed in June 2024, Phase 2 now 84% finished, and Phase 3 at just 43% with a deadline extended to March 2026.
* Bo. Obrero Seawall (Lapuz) – Two phases above 98% complete but suspended by the city; another at 51% is halted due to a barge obstruction.
* Batiano River – Four ongoing sections averaging 58–60% completion.
* Jaro Floodway – Four sections averaging 54–55% completion, all behind schedule.
* Tagbak, Jaro (Access Road/Bike Lane) – A 238.7-meter lane is almost done (90.62%). But missed deadlines have triggered liquidated damages against the contractor. Another section, however, was completed in August 2024.
* Coastal Areas (Lapuz) – Two major projects worth P145 million each are halfway done, their purpose dual — flood defense and future public access.
Other works along Buntatala and Dungon creeks remain delayed due to waterline relocations and the presence of informal settlers, according to sources.
They added that contractors face liquidated damages for missed deadlines, including those handling sections in Tagbak and Bo. Obrero.
More than 10 firms are involved in the projects. A request for fraud investigation had been filed with the Commission on Audit.
For city residents, however, the politics matter less than the delays.
“People don’t care who gets credit. They just want to know if these embankments will actually stop the flooding,” one DPWH insider remarked.
But with deadlines slipping and communities still vulnerable, the challenge is making sure the billions poured into these defenses actually deliver protection.
Sources said permit issues also cause the snag. While local roads require city-issued clearances, national projects like flood controls often bypass City Hall. What the city usually receives are only traffic advisory letters. This mismatch has fueled confusion and finger-pointing.
There are also signage and transparency gaps. Missing or incomplete billboards at project sites feed public suspicion. Errors in those billboards were not corrected immediately, worsening perceptions of secrecy.
21 FLOOD CONTROL PROJECTS IN ILOILO CITY (2024–2025)
1. Construction of Flood Mitigation Structure, Bo. Obrero, Lapuz – Section 1
* Amount: ₱144,298,541.54
* Start: February 26, 2024
* Completion: December 16, 2024
* Status: 76.52% accomplished, suspended (obstruction: informal settlers)
2. Construction of Flood Mitigation Structure, Bo. Obrero, Lapuz – Section 2
* Amount: ₱144,380,194.17
* Start: February 26, 2024
* Completion: December 16, 2024
* Status: 89.62% accomplished, ongoing; liquidated damages apply
3. Construction of Flood Mitigation Structure, Bo. Obrero, Lapuz – Section 3
* Amount: ₱141,855,006.72
* Start: February 26, 2024
* Completion: December 16, 2024
* Status: 98.83% accomplished, liquidated damages apply
4. Construction of Flood Mitigation Structure, Bo. Obrero, Lapuz – Section 4
* Amount: ₱141,799,122.88
* Start: February 26, 2024
* Completion: December 16, 2024
* Status: 98.26% accomplished, liquidated damages apply
5. Construction of Flood Mitigation Structure, Dungon Creek – Section 1
* Amount: ₱119,418,737.94
* Start: February 20, 2024
* Completion: November 14, 2025
* Status: 51.47% accomplished, suspended (pending waterline transfer)
6. Construction of Flood Mitigation Structure, Dungon Creek – Section 2
* Amount: ₱117,366,454.55
* Start: February 20, 2024
* Completion: November 14, 2025
* Status: 63.34% accomplished, ongoing
7. Construction of Flood Mitigation Structure, Dungon Creek – Section 3
* Amount: ₱119,418,737.94
* Start: February 20, 2024
* Completion: November 14, 2025
* Status: 58.20% accomplished, ongoing
8. Construction of Flood Mitigation Structure, Batiano River – Section 1
* Amount: ₱144,827,586.21
* Start: February 27, 2024
* Completion: December 17, 2024
* Status: 60.12% accomplished, ongoing
9. Construction of Flood Mitigation Structure, Batiano River – Section 2
* Amount: ₱144,827,586.21
* Start: February 27, 2024
* Completion: December 17, 2024
* Status: 58.05% accomplished, ongoing
10. Construction of Flood Mitigation Structure, Batiano River – Section 3
* Amount: ₱142,307,692.31
* Start: February 27, 2024
* Completion: December 17, 2024
* Status: 60.52% accomplished, ongoing
11. Construction of Flood Mitigation Structure, Batiano River – Section 4
* Amount: ₱142,307,692.31
* Start: February 27, 2024
* Completion: December 17, 2024
* Status: 59.21% accomplished, ongoing
12. Construction of Flood Mitigation Structure, Jaro Floodway – Section 1
* Amount: ₱144,444,444.44
* Start: February 21, 2024
* Completion: December 11, 2024
* Status: 55.19% accomplished, ongoing
13. Construction of Flood Mitigation Structure, Jaro Floodway – Section 2
* Amount: ₱144,444,444.44
* Start: February 21, 2024
* Completion: December 11, 2024
* Status: 53.98% accomplished, ongoing
14. Construction of Flood Mitigation Structure, Jaro Floodway – Section 3
* Amount: ₱142,500,000.00
* Start: February 21, 2024
* Completion: December 11, 2024
* Status: 55.00% accomplished, ongoing
15. Construction of Flood Mitigation Structure, Jaro Floodway – Section 4
* Amount: ₱142,500,000.00
* Start: February 21, 2024
* Completion: December 11, 2024
* Status: 54.20% accomplished, ongoing
16. Construction of Flood Mitigation Structure, Buntatala Creek – Section 1
* Amount: ₱118,750,000.00
* Start: February 22, 2024
* Completion: November 13, 2025
* Status: 60.10% accomplished, ongoing
17. Construction of Flood Mitigation Structure, Buntatala Creek – Section 2
* Amount: ₱118,750,000.00
* Start: February 22, 2024
* Completion: November 13, 2025
* Status: 59.80% accomplished, ongoing
18. Construction of Flood Mitigation Structure, Mohon Creek – Section 1
* Amount: ₱117,647,058.82
* Start: February 23, 2024
* Completion: November 14, 2025
* Status: 55.00% accomplished, ongoing
19. Construction of Flood Mitigation Structure, Mohon Creek – Section 2
* Amount: ₱117,647,058.82
* Start: February 23, 2024
* Completion: November 14, 2025
* Status: 54.90% accomplished, ongoing
20. Construction of Flood Mitigation Structure, Coastal Area – Section 1 (Lapuz)
* Amount: ₱145,000,000.00
* Start: February 25, 2024
* Completion: December 15, 2024
* Status: 58.70% accomplished, ongoing
21. Construction of Flood Mitigation Structure, Coastal Area – Section 2 (Lapuz)
* Amount: ₱145,000,000.00
* Start: February 25, 2024
* Completion: December 15, 2024
* Status: 59.10% accomplished, ongoing/PN
