ILOILO — Around 200 protesters gathered at the Aganan Flyover in Pavia on Thursday, September 18, to denounce what they called a symbol of massive corruption in Iloilo.
The protest, spearheaded by transport and multi-sectoral groups, called for accountability from government officials over the controversial P560-million project that has long been delayed and plagued by issues since its construction began in 2020.
Elmer Forro, lead convenor of the No to PUV Phaseout Coalition Panay and secretary general of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) Panay, delivered a fiery speech, declaring, “Today, we unite not just as transport workers but as citizens of Iloilo who are tired of being silenced by corruption. We are here to reclaim our rights and demand transparency.”
Forro criticized the Aganan Flyover as a “monument to wasted public funds,” stressing that despite millions of pesos spent, the structure remains unbeneficial to the public. He added that commuters continue to suffer from long traffic delays in the area while government resources are squandered.
“If the government is truly serious about ending corruption, those responsible must be held accountable — may manabat, may dakpon, may pabayron, kag dapat may ipapriso,” Forro stressed, pointing out that the project has remained problematic since it was initiated during the Duterte administration and left untouched under the current leadership.
The rally was held in line with a nationwide three-day transport strike led by Piston and Manibela groups, amplifying calls for transparency and ethical governance. Forro also announced that a larger protest march is set on September 21 from Jaro Plaza to the Iloilo Provincial Capitol.
Rev. Msgr. Marco Sulayao, chairperson of PCPR Panay-Guimaras, echoed the sentiments, describing the project as a “scam.”
“A huge amount of money has been allocated to this flyover, yet it continues to cause inconvenience not just to Pavia residents but to the whole of Iloilo,” he said.
Sulayao urged Ilonggos to remain vigilant: “Indi naton pag i-normalize ang korapsyon, indi naton pag i-normalize ang kinawatay sa pungsod. Dapat mangin kabalaka kita, kay bwas damlag sang aton kabataan ang nakataya diri.”
The Aganan Flyover, which began construction in July 2020 with an expected completion within 24 months, was halted in 2022 due to deterioration issues. Work has recently resumed with jet grouting.
Protesters vowed to continue pressing for accountability, asserting that Iloilo’s fight against corruption has only just begun./PN
