THE RECENT cease-and-desist order issued by Iloilo City’s Mayor Raisa Treñas against several Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) projects has brought to the surface a long-standing problem in Philippine governance: the disconnect between national agencies and local government units (LGUs). At the heart of this lies a crucial question — who truly governs the ground?
In Iloilo City, the stakes of this disconnect became tragically clear. At least 68 barangays were recently submerged in floodwaters. A young resident lost his life. And according to the city government and residents alike, DPWH-implemented infrastructure — bike lanes, slope protection, and access roads that allegedly encroached on creeks — played a role in blocking natural drainage paths and worsening the disaster.
The projects in question were not cleared by the city government, according to Mayor Treñas, because there was no proper coordination or consultation, in direct violation of DPWH Department Order No. 110, s. 2015 which mandates local consultation and clearance before any such work begins. That the city was less able to intervene in the projects’ design or locations is an example of a governance model that places national implementation above local knowledge.
This top-down approach is no longer tenable. LGUs are the ones closest to the people. They are the first to respond when disaster strikes and the last to leave when rebuilding begins. Yet, all too often, they are left in the dark when major infrastructure decisions are made within their jurisdiction. This is inefficient and even dangerous.
We must rethink the balance of power between national agencies like the DPWH and local governments. While technical expertise often resides at the national level, contextual knowledge, risk awareness, and accountability lie squarely with the LGUs. Projects that alter waterways, reshape terrain, or impact community access must never bypass local oversight — not in Iloilo, not anywhere.
Mayor Treñas’ firm stance, supported by neighboring Oton, Iloilo’s Mayor Sofronio Fusin Jr., is an assertion of duty. And it is time for national agencies to recognize that LGUs are not just “end users” or “stakeholders” but co-equal partners in governance, constitutionally mandated to protect the welfare of their constituents.
Bridging the governance gap requires more than consultation after plans are made. It requires shared authority, binding approvals, and joint accountability. National agencies must treat LGUs not as obstacles to progress but as vital collaborators in ensuring that development does not come at the cost of safety, environment, and local trust.
The recent flooding in Iloilo was not just a natural calamity — it was a failure of coordination and follow-up. Let that failure be a lesson. Infrastructure that ignores local government is infrastructure that ignores the people. And no amount of concrete or steel can replace the value of local insight and democratic accountability.
