ILOILO City – Calls for transparency continue to hound Iloilo City Lone District’s Cong. Julienne “Jam-jam” Baronda, as critics raise questions over her lifestyle, and the flood control projects here that have drawn public attention.
Baronda, who has served in Congress since 2019, previously worked as a contractual staffer for then-Senator JV Ejercito. Transparency advocates have urged her to make public her Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) and Income Tax Returns (ITRs) covering her years in office, saying this would help dispel speculation about her financial capacity.
“She can put all doubts to rest by opening her SALN and ITRs for public scrutiny,” one advocate said, stressing that questions have circulated in the city regarding public officials’ accountability.
In March of this year, Baronda’s estranged political ally former councilor Plaridel Nava announced having filed a complaint against her before the Office of the Ombudsman questioning her wealth.
Flood control funding under the spotlight
The clamor for transparency also intersects with concerns raised by critics over infrastructure projects facilitated for funding by the Iloilo City Lone District office of Baronda.
Iloilo City’s flood control budget has risen sharply in recent years — from ₱71.1 million in 2023 to ₱737.3 million in 2024, and nearly ₱1 billion in 2025 — bringing the three-year total to almost ₱1.75 billion.
Documents show that a significant share of the contracts in 2025, amounting to about ₱526 million, went to firms reportedly linked to the controversial Discaya family — St. Timothy Construction, St. Gerard Construction, Alpha & Omega, and YPR. These companies also secured ₱374.6 million worth of projects in 2024.
A source familiar with the bidding process, who requested anonymity, claimed that “splitting the projects into ₱150-million packages” allows them to be bid out at the district level.
Critics argue that despite the billions poured into these projects, several areas of Iloilo City remain flooded.
They also point to projects such as seawalls and embankments which, according to some engineers and residents, may not align with the city’s drainage master plan.
In Barangay Mohon, Arevalo district, for example, an embankment reportedly narrowed the Iloilo River channel, which residents fear could worsen flooding.
In Lapuz district, barangay officials have questioned two ₱150-million projects along Mansaya-Budburan Creek that they say have yet to be implemented.
City government’s findings
Mayor Raisa Treñas, in her submission to the Mayors for Good Governance group, cited a July 31, 2025 Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) – Iloilo City District Engineering Office (ICDEO) report showing that five out of 17 flood mitigation structures could not be located by city inspectors.
Other projects were suspended due to obstructions from informal structures in waterways.
“This is the result of uncoordinated planning with the Iloilo City Government. The LGU (local government unit) has always been ready to provide relocation sites had there been proper coordination,” Treñas said.
Broader infrastructure issues
Other projects under Baronda’s term have been the subject of complaints from residents and barangay officials, including unfinished multi-purpose buildings, school facilities, and barangay gyms.
Critics also flagged that allocations for assistance programs such as the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS), Medical Assistance for Indigent Patients (MAIP), and DOLE-TUPAD funds, amounting to over ₱1 billion, need greater transparency in distribution.
In a statement issued on September 19 and reported by DYFM Bombo Radyo Iloilo, Baronda said: “As to nga-a sila (Discaya firms), I think ang Iloilo City District Engineering Office kag ang regional office (of the Department of Public Works and Highways) amo ang magasabat sina. Indi ta man siguro makontrol kun sin-o ang naga-bid. Indi ko kaintindi nga nag-alamo ni. As to the bidding process, wala man kita gaintra dira.”
She added: “Maayo man ini natabo, nationally, nga may yara sang mga investigation and we really welcome that because it is unfair for those local districts nga nagatinguha nga masolbar ang mga problema sa ila distrito.”/PN
