ILOILO City – President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has effectively vindicated Mayor Raisa Treñas’ repeated calls for a thorough investigation into flood control projects here, ordering sanctions and blacklisting for contractors behind delayed or substandard works.
During his Aug. 13 visit, Marcos inspected Sections 9 and 10 of a flood mitigation project in Barangay San Isidro, Jaro district — just a portion of the projects Treñas earlier pressed the Department of Public Works and Highways – Iloilo City District Engineering Office (DPWH-ICDEO) to clarify.
Several other controversial works flagged by the mayor, including those in Mohon, Tagbak, and the Mansaya-Budburan Creek area, were not part of the President’s inspection.
In a Facebook post, the country’s Chief Executive said, “Sa aking pagbisita sa Iloilo, nakita natin ang mga delayed at palpak na flood control projects na lalo pang nagpapalala ng pagbaha.”
He directed the DPWH to hold negligent contractors accountable and urged the public to report irregularities through sumbongsapangulo.ph.
“Inatasan ko ang DPWH na panagutin at i-blacklist ang mga palpak na contractors. Sa ating mga kababayan, kasama kayo sa laban kontra katiwalian at pagbaha. I-report ang mga anomalya sa sumbongsapangulo.ph. Sama-sama tayong kumilos para sa mas ligtas na Bagong Pilipinas,” Marcos stressed.
Treñas welcomed the President’s stance, saying it validates her administration’s long-standing demand for proper coordination and complete permitting before starting projects.
“Halin pa sang una, nagapangabay gid ang Iloilo City Government sa DPWH-ICDEO nga antes magsugod ang proyekto, dapat may husto nga koordinasyon sa aton lokal nga panguluhan kag kumpleto ang mga kinahanglanon nga permits,” she said.
For her part, Iloilo City Lone District’s Cong. Julienne Baronda also expressed full support for the President’s directive, citing both completed and ongoing mitigation works such as a P100-million revetment wall in Barangay San Isidro and two P150-million Tigum River projects, one of which is currently suspended.
“We are one with the PBBM administration in ensuring that flood mitigation infrastructure projects are constructed according to specifications… Our strong support to investigations into these flood control projects across the country is rock solid to safeguard the hard-earned money of the people,” she said.
Nearly P4 billion in infrastructure projects are being implemented by the ICDEO for calendar years 2024 and 2025, covering 90 projects, Mayor Treñas said in a statement.
Four of these projects are being handled by Alpha & Omega General Contractor & Development Corp. and St. Timothy Construction Corp., both ranked among the country’s top 15 contractors for flood control projects, according to President Marcos Jr.
“If these projects do not serve their intended purpose of controlling or mitigating flooding, then it would be better to demolish them altogether rather than waste public funds,” Treñas said.
She urged DPWH to immediately provide documents requested by the city government for a science-based study to update the Drainage Master Plan, a city-wide program based on technical research and consultations aimed at providing sustainable flood control solutions.
The mayor also raised concerns that some drainage structures built by DPWH and ICDEO may be below minimum size standards, citing the narrowing of Buntatala Creek, which she said worsened downstream flooding.
She echoed President Marcos’ observation that some project plans appeared to follow the same template, with only titles and addresses changed, suggesting a lack of thorough planning.
“Flooding cannot be solved overnight or through a single approach. But with coordination, expert studies, and science-based solutions guiding our actions, we can address this problem effectively,” Treñas said.
In March this year, under then-mayor Jerry P. Treñas, the city government also sought concrete solutions to long-overdue and unfinished DPWH-ICDEO projects. The city wanted to know if funds were available for their completion amid complaints from barangay officials and residents.
On Monday, Aug. 11, the Sangguniang Panlungsod launched a legislative inquiry into projects suspected of worsening flooding due to encroachments, narrowed channels, and obstructed drainage./PN