ILOILO City – Alarmed by a P200,000 review difference in the cost of a single waiting shed, a local anti-corruption watchdog is calling for a sweeping audit of all infrastructure projects funded by the Iloilo City Government.
The group Kahublagan Kontra Kurapsyon (KKK-Iloilo) made the appeal after a reevaluation by the City Engineer’s Office (CEO) revealed that the waiting shed built in Barangay Katilingban, Molo district had been “overestimated” by about 33 percent.
Originally pegged at nearly P800,000, the project’s actual cost should have only been P538,653.37, according to the CEO’s reassessment.
“This is not just about one waiting shed,” KKK-Iloilo said in a statement . This case, it said, raised red flags in the planning, bidding, and approval processes of government projects.
“What kind of planning and estimation allows for such a significant price drop?” KKK-Iloilo asked. “Were there inflated costs in the initial budget — or deliberate efforts to profit from public funds?”
The CEO explained that the P538,653.37 revised cost reflected adjustments after reviewing materials, labor, and technical requirements.
But KKK-Iloilo stressed that transparency requires more than recalculations.
The group is demanding the public release of all related documents — including bidding records, cost estimates, and variation orders — and urged the Commission on Audit (COA) to guarantee full transparency in the reevaluation and refund process.
KKK-Iloilo also pushed for an independent audit by private engineers and accountants, fearing that the Molo shed could be just one of several projects needing review.
“We are calling on Ilonggo professionals — engineers, accountants, and public works practitioners — to join our Graft Watch Committee,” the group said. “The public deserves to know how their money is being spent.”
The group vowed to keep a close watch on future city-funded infrastructure projects and to continue advocating for stronger public oversight mechanisms.
OVERESTIMATIONS
The CEO has actually acknowledged what it called as overestimations in two infrastructure projects — the P798,000 waiting shed in Barangay Katilingban, Molo and the P4.1-million San Rafael Overpass Improvement Project in Mandurriao district — prompting a recalibration that cut a combined P1.4 million from their original costs.
City Engineer Engr. Dianaline Señoron said their technical reevaluation aimed to ensure transparency and cost integrity in all city-funded projects.
“We wanted to make sure that the project costs truly reflect what was constructed on the ground,” Señoron told Panay News. “When we conducted the reevaluation, we found areas where the original estimates could be reasonably reduced without compromising quality or safety.”
P215,000 deducted from Molo waiting shed
The CEO’s latest report showed that the Katilingban waiting shed’s cost has been adjusted to P583,653.37, a reduction of P211,872.10 from the original P798,525.47.
“We want to maintain full transparency, so the variation order was immediately submitted to COA for proper evaluation,” Señoron said, adding that no payment has been released pending the Commission on Audit’s review and final inspection.
The waiting shed was funded under Appropriation Ordinance No. 2022-007, which earmarked P2 million for waiting sheds citywide. Of these, only the Katilingban structure was completed; the rest of the funds were diverted to other infrastructure projects.
The project, which started in November 2024, was temporarily halted when the Molo District Health Center used the site as parking space. Work resumed in August 2025 and concluded by September 1.
According to Señoron, the reduction stemmed mainly from overestimated roofing, general requirements, and lighting components.
“There were overestimated quantities and cost items that, upon field verification, were not fully applicable,” she explained. “We corrected those to reflect the actual scope of work.”
San Rafael overpass trimmed by P1.2 million
The P4.1-million San Rafael Overpass Improvement Project along Diversion Road also underwent scrutiny, with its cost expected to drop to between P2.8 million and P2.9 million after field validation.
Señoron said the biggest deductions came from the removal of unnecessary plumbing and sanitary works worth P100,700 and adjustments in steelwork expenses.
“There were inclusions in the original plan that turned out to be unnecessary or excessive,” she said. “For example, the plumbing component wasn’t really essential for an overpass, so we recommended its removal.”
She emphasized that the purpose of the review was not merely to save money but to ensure technical soundness and accountability.
“This is not just about reducing costs for the sake of savings,” Señoron added. “It’s about aligning project designs with actual site requirements and ensuring every peso of taxpayers’ money is justified.”/PN
