BY GEROME DALIPE IV
ILOILO City – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) – Iloilo City District Engineering Office has only until Friday, June 7, to vacate the city government property it is occupying at Fort San Pedro.
Mayor Jerry Treñas sent a letter dated May 31 ordering Engr. De Roy Pacanan, DPWH Iloilo City district engineer, to remove all their equipment, vehicles, and other instruments from the property.
“That is the property of the city which is needed by the city. They have no documents for their occupation. Three years ago, we gave the district land in (Barangay) Sooc for their office. I don’t know what happened to the amounts they spent there. Tani buligay lang ta kay pareho lang gobyerno,” Treñas said.
Four to five demands were sent for the DPWH engineering office to leave the Fort San Pedro Property, he revealed.
“After much thought and consideration, the undersigned deems it wise that these (DPWH) materials, vehicles, and the area for the preparation of hot asphalt be vacated in the same manner as of your other offices in the premises, to avoid issues of security and safety,” Treñas’ letter read.
The mayor said he received information that the national government appropriated funds for the construction of a new building for the DPWH engineering office in Sooc.
“Several appropriations were made and yet up to now, we cannot see any building of DPWH in Sooc,” said Treñas.
He added: “If they are not vacating the (Fort San Pedro) property, we are filing cases against them with the Ombudsman, the Civil Service, and the Office of the President,” said Treñas.
The mayor said that Engr. Sanny Boy Oropel, DPWH regional director, assured him Tuesday night the city district office and all their equipment will finally vacate by the end of this week including all their heavy equipment.
“We will take pictures after they vacate so that the public will see what they will leave behind. We are also asking the regional office to require the district to give an accounting of the entire budget they have spent in constructing the still unfinished building in Sooc. It is a white elephant after so many years,” said Treñas.
In the letter, Treñas said the city government already provided the DPWH Iloilo Engineering District with a relocation lot in Barangay Sooc, Arevalo which is “more than enough to accommodate your request.”
“Also, please be reminded that the process relative to the request of your office has been ongoing for a year, if not more. We believe that this is already ample time to prepare and complete such a transfer, not to mention the agreement that this should have been accomplished by March of 2024,” the letter read.
The DPWH City Engineering District reasoned the delay of the transfer was due to lack of water and electrical application.
“However, upon verification, we have discovered that no application for electrical connection has been submitted with the city’s power distributor. The City of Iloilo cannot be put at the mercy of this factor,” the letter added.
Treñas said his letter served as the “last and final demand” for DPWH Iloilo Engineering District to move out from the Fort San Pedro property.
“Your failure or neglect to vacate the area shall be understood as willful and therefore, the City of Iloilo will be constrained to institute remedies including but not limited to appropriate actions in court,” the letter read.
In a press briefing on Monday, Treñas expressed his disappointment at the DPWH-6 for carrying out various projects in the city without securing the necessary permits from the City Hall and other concerned agencies.
Treñas vowed to stop other projects being implemented by the DPWH-6 in the city without permits. The mayor also said he would not hesitate to lodge charges against them if they continue constructing these projects without first securing permits.
He specifically cited the cease and desist order issued against the ongoing construction of the P400-million seawall project spanning the shorelines of Barangays Rizal Pala-Pala and Tanza.
“We will enforce it. I will make use of my police powers under the Local Government Code,” Treñas told reporters during a press conference.
City Legal Office chief Edgardo Gil issued the cease and desist against the seawall project for lack of permits from the Philippine Reclamation Authority, Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and for disregarding the provisions of the Local Government Code.
In the order, Gil said the DPWH-6 did not conduct a public consultation with any of the concerned barangays before the project construction./PN
