ILOILO City – Mayor Raisa Treñas said the resignation of Iloilo City District Engineering Office (ICDEO) officer-in-charge Roy Pacanan should not spare him from being held answerable for public works projects under his watch.
“Even with his resignation, Pacanan remains accountable to the people of Iloilo City,” Treñas declared. “We demand clear answers on projects that were alleged as substandard, delayed, ghost, or even completed but still failing to serve their true purpose. Our people deserve transparency, not half-baked reports and vague promises.”
Pacanan reportedly tendered his courtesy resignation on September 1 in compliance with Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon’s directive for all district engineers to step down as part of a nationwide purge.
The mayor criticized ICDEO’s recent report covering 90 projects worth nearly P4 billion under the General Appropriations Act from 2022 to 2025, noting that many entries were listed only under “Iloilo City” without precise locations.
“How can we verify these projects when the report does not even identify exactly where they are being implemented? The lack of detail raises serious doubts about whether these projects truly exist or if they are mere paper accomplishments,” she said.
Treñas also flagged several projects marked as “pending issuance of LGU permits,” questioning why construction was allowed to proceed without proper coordination.
“This is a blatant disregard for the authority of the local government. If these projects are really for the Ilonggos, then they should follow due process, respect the city’s permitting system, and be implemented properly — not rushed, not hidden, and certainly not left half-done,” she stressed.
The mayor reiterated her demand for the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to issue a complete and transparent accounting of all flood control projects in the city.
“We will never allow projects to be paraded as being ‘for the Ilonggos’ when in reality they fail to deliver genuine service to our people. I am formally calling on DPWH to present immediately a comprehensive report, detailing exact locations, timelines, budget allocations, and actual progress. Only with full transparency can trust be restored, and only with accountability can we move forward,” Treñas said./PN
