ILOILO City – There are no ghost projects or substandard flood mitigation projects in this city funded by the national government through the General Appropriations Acts of 2024 and 2025, a government official told Panay News on condition of anonymity for lack of authority to speak to the media.
Records show that of 21 flood control projects, three have already been completed while 18 of these remain under construction.
“There are no ghost projects in Iloilo City. There are ongoing flood control projects, but you cannot say these are palpak, as these are still ongoing or part of multi-year multi-phase projects. How can you say these are ineffective when these are not yet fully completed? Also, even if these are done when the connecting outfall is not yet finished, you can still not say that it is ineffective,” the source said.
“We cannot put in place in just one year all the flood control projects that are needed for us to really experience the effectiveness of the project and solve the flooding problem of Iloilo City. We are doing these phase by phase or year by year because the government has budgetary constraints,” the source further explained.
Of the 18 ongoing, eight were suspended due to reasons such as obstructions due to the presence of informal and private settlers as well as a power barge, force majeure caused by multiple tropical depressions, delays in related sections that prevent site access, and the presence of mangroves. Four projects have been meted out with liquidated damages.
The completed projects include the construction of the Flood Mitigation Structure (Section 1) in Mohon worth P90.9 million, construction of Flood Mitigation Structures in Iloilo City – Drainage System 1 in Dungon Creek worth P9.85 million, and the construction of Flood Mitigation Structure – Iloilo City Flood Control Project Section 9 in Buntatala Creek worth P39.4 million.
The ongoing flood mitigation projects, including those suspended, are:
* Construction of Flood Mitigation Structure in Iloilo City, Section 10 in San Isidro worth P144 million which is 76.52% completed but is suspended due to the obstruction/informal settlers.
* Construction of Flood Mitigation Structure in Iloilo City, Section 9 in San Isidro worth P144 million, which is 89.62% completed with liquidated damages.
* Construction of Flood Mitigation Structure in Lapuz, Section 1 in Bo. Obrero worth P141 million, which is 98.83% completed with liquidated damages.
* Construction of Flood Mitigation Structure in Lapuz, Section 2 in Bo. Obrero worth P141 million, which is 98.26% completed with liquidated damages.
* Construction of Flood Mitigation Structure Waterways Rehabilitation and Coastal Protection, Section 1 in Bo. Obrero, which is 51.47% completed and suspended due to power barge.
* Construction of Iloilo City Access Road Section 1 in Tagbak worth P48.8 million and 90.62% completed with liquidated damages.
* Rehabilitation of Revetment, Jaro Floodway (Left Bank) in Tacas worth P96 million is 74.87% done but is suspended due to force majeure caused by multiple tropical depressions.
* Construction of Iloilo City Flood Mitigation Structures – Iloilo Comprehensive Flood Mitigation Project Section 1 worth P144 million 35% done and is ongoing.
* Construction of Flood Mitigation Structures – Waterways Rehabilitation and Coastal Protection Section 2 in Mohon worth P119 million, which is 84.64% done and is ongoing.
* Construction of Iloilo City Flood Mitigation Structures Iloilo City Comprehensive Flood Mitigation Project, Section 1 in Mohon worth P143 million is 30.38% done and is ongoing.
* Construction of Flood Mitigation Structure Along Dungon Creek, Dungon B worth P34 million is 81.49% done and is suspended due to informal settlers’ presence.
* Construction of Flood Mitigation Structure within Iloilo City Waterways Section 3 in Buntatala Creek worth P102 million is 21.44% done and is suspended due to obstruction caused by existing waterlines.
* Construction of Flood Mitigation Structure Construction of Iloilo City Flood Mitigation Structure Section 1 in Lapuz worth P48 million is suspended due to inaccessibility to the project pending completion of a related section.
* Improvement and Canal Lining of Drainage Canal, Sta. Barbara River Irrigation System, Jaro worth P29 million is ongoing.
* Construction of Flood Mitigation Structure and Promenade along Batiano River, Section 1 worth P144 million is suspended due to inaccessibility to project site caused by presence of mangroves and private settlers.
* Construction of Flood Mitigation Structure along Batiano River Section 2 worth P96 million is suspended due to inaccessibility to project site due to presence of mangroves and private settlers.
* Construction of Flood Mitigation Structure along Calajunan Creek worth P125 million is 76.91% completed and is ongoing.
* Construction of Flood Mitigation Structures within Iloilo City Waterways and Coastal Protection Section 11 worth 39 million is 50.37% done and is ongoing.
The source also emphasized that these projects were the subject of a coordination meeting with former Mayor Jerry Treñas held in his own office last October 19, 2022.
The Iloilo City District Engineering Office (ICDEO) has repeatedly stated in its explanation letters submitted to the DPWH Regional Office and to City Hall officials that it has submitted documents to the Iloilo City Hall, but it has not acted on these. It has also closely coordinated with barangay stakeholders prior to and during the project implementation.
The use of easement for some of the projects is also not an issue since the DENR has said that easements can be used for public projects.
On the other hand, the construction companies related to the controversial Discaya couple participated in the bidding processes where they won and, at times, also lost. These biddings were joined by local contractors who also won and lost projects that they bid for. /PN
