ILOILO City — The Iloilo City Government is fully funding the P6,028,860 cadastral line delineation survey of the Jaro River to move forward with long-delayed flood mitigation, river rehabilitation, and relocation planning.
Mayor Raisa S. Treñas and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region 6 regional executive director Atty. Ramar Niel V. Pascua formally signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on November 12, 2026, giving DENR one year to complete the survey.
“Importante ini nga survey para mahibaluan naton ang eksakto nga boundaries sang Jaro River, ang mga lugar nga may encroachment, kag ang legal easements nga dapat protektahan. We need accurate data to properly plan our flood mitigation measures, river rehabilitation, and possible relocation of affected families,” Mayor Treñas said.
The project had been delayed for several years due to funding concerns under the original agreement, which required the City Government and DENR to equally share the cost. With DENR unable to provide its counterpart funding, Mayor Treñas decided that the city would shoulder the entire amount to ensure the project moves forward.
“When I assumed office, I instructed our team to find a way to fund the entire survey rather than wait any longer. That is why the Iloilo City Government committed the full amount of P6,028,860 para masugdan kag matapos na gid ini nga proyekto,” she said.
The survey will cover the entire stretch of the Jaro River, from the boundary of Pavia, Iloilo to its mouth at the Iloilo Strait, traversing at least 10 barangays in the districts of Jaro and La Paz.
For Mayor Treñas, establishing the river’s exact boundaries is an important step toward addressing informal settlements along its banks and preparing appropriate relocation areas.
“Once may ara na gid kita delineation survey results, maareglar na naton ang aton da nga informal settlers, mapreparahan ang aton relocation site. That will be our natural flood control,” she said.
Mayor Treñas also expressed her gratitude to the Iloilo City Local Housing Office (ICLHO) for its assistance, emphasizing the city government’s continued commitment to housing initiatives, particularly projects that protect residents living in high-risk areas.
“We have many more projects in the pipeline, especially in the area of housing. One of our priorities is to protect our communities from danger by ensuring that families, particularly informal settler families living in hazardous areas, are provided with safer places to live. Their safety and well-being must always come first,” Mayor Treñas said.
The Mayor also emphasized that the Jaro River initiative is only the beginning of a broader effort to restore and protect the city’s natural waterways.
“This is just the start. I plan to have a study of the whole Iloilo City para maamat-amat naton buhi ang aton mga natural flood control kay amo gid ni para sa akon ang daku gid nga bulig when it comes sa flow sang tubig,” she added.
According to Community Environment and Natural Resources Officer Armin Halili, the last survey conducted in the area dates back to the 1920s, underscoring the need for updated technical data.
Halili also emphasized that river easements must be protected in accordance with the Water Code of the Philippines or Presidential Decree No. 1067. These areas are intended for public use and activities such as fishing, recreation, and public service.
He explained that settlements, garbage accumulation, and siltation can reduce the river’s water-carrying capacity and contribute to flooding.
Under the agreement, DENR will oversee the procurement of technical survey services and provide the City Government with the completed survey maps and technical report within the one-year timeline.
The mayor also thanked the DENR and all the partners who helped make the project possible, noting that its realization came after five years of efforts.
“This is just the start, hambal ko gane sa kanday RED (Pascua), ‘dugangan pa naton.’ I plan to have a study of the whole Iloilo City para ma amat-amat naton buhi ang aton nga mga natural flood control kay amo guid ni para sa akon ang dako guid nga bulig when it comes sa flow sang tubig,” Mayor Treñas said.
“Padayon naton ini nga trabahuon kaupod ang DENR kag iban pa nga ahensya para sa mas maayo nga flood management sa aton siyudad,” she added./PN
