BY GEROME DALIPE IV
ILOILO City – The rift between Mayor Jerry Treñas and Engr. Roy Pacanan, head of the Department of Public Works and Highways – Iloilo City District Engineering Office (DPWH-ICDEO), has deepened. Pacanan pushed back against accusations of delays in critical road projects.
In a memorandum to DPWH-6 Regional Director Sanny Boy Oropel, Pacanan dismissed Treñas’ claims as a “pattern of personal accusation,” blaming procedural lapses by the city government for the setbacks in road projects along JM Basa Street and Calle Real.
Pacanan argued that the delays could have been avoided if the city government had acted promptly on DPWH-ICDEO’s meeting requests as early as February 2024.
“Certainly, we will not take this attack against our honor and integrity sitting down,” he said.
Mayor’s frustrations
Earlier, Mayor Treñas expressed disappointment over the unfinished roadworks in Iloilo City’s downtown commercial hub.
In a Dec.17 letter to DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan, Treñas accused Pacanan of missing deadlines, including the original completion date of December 13, followed by an extension to Dec.16.
Treñas described Pacanan’s handling of the projects as “unprofessional” and “insensitive” to the needs of over 500,000 residents.
He called for immediate intervention to ensure completion by December 20, emphasizing that the delays had disrupted businesses, residents, and commuters.
DPWH-ICDEO’s defense
Pacanan responded with a detailed rebuttal, arguing that delays stemmed from the city government’s failure to act on coordination meeting requests.
While the first request was sent on Feb. 15, the initial meeting only occurred on May 2 — 106 days later.
He noted that Ordinance No. 2024-195, which authorized road closures for the project, was passed on September 25 but only reached the DPWH-ICDEO on Oct. 11.
Pacanan contended that these delays violated the Ease of Doing Business Act and other legal provisions, warranting possible administrative or criminal sanctions.
Project status
Contrary to Treñas’ claims, Pacanan reported that the project was ahead of schedule, with 51.62 percent completed as of Dec. 26.
The project is expected to be finished by April 6, 2025. He denied making assurances about the December deadlines mentioned by the mayor.
In addition, Pacanan criticized the mayor’s approach, calling public accusations “impulsive, unethical, and damaging to reputations.”
He underscored the importance of verifying facts before making public statements and urged Treñas to reflect on the efficiency of his administration.
Despite the ongoing conflict, Pacanan reaffirmed DPWH-ICDEO’s commitment to delivering quality infrastructure projects on time, maintaining their integrity, and serving the public effectively./PN
