ILOILO City – The Department of Public Works and Highways – Iloilo City District Engineering Office (DPWH–ICDEO) must reverse the illegal reclamation of the Buntatala Creek in Jaro district, the city government insisted following an investigation confirming the waterway was narrowed by the agency’s own projects.
City Legal Officer Joseph Edward Areño said the city will invoke the findings of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) Region 6 to compel DPWH–ICDEO to restore the creek to its original width and correct the obstruction that worsened July’s massive flooding.
“For one, we have to ask DPWH to rectify their project. We have to ask them ibalik or palaparon pa gid ang aton creek. We have to allow them to fix what aggravated our flooding. These projects may not have been thoroughly studied, considering they did not even secure an ECC (Environmental Compliance Certificate),” Areño said.
The DENR investigation was initiated after the city sought clarification on the documentation, funding, and compliance of the bike lane and flood control projects traversing the Buntatala Creek, following a severe flooding in barangays Camalig, Lanit, Balantang, Tagbak, and Buntatala in July.
Both projects, whose fundings were facilitated by the congressional office of Cong. Julienne “Jam-jam” Baronda, are being implemented by DPWH–ICDEO under Engr. Roy Pacanan.
The DENR-EMB technical assessment concluded that the portions of the Buntatala Creek were evidently reclaimed for the construction of the Access Road Section 1 (Bike Lane) Project in Barangay Tagbak. This significantly constricted the creeks’ natural waterway, reducing its capacity, limiting flow, and causing overflow during heavy rains.
“Very clear ang conclusion sang DENR: nag gamay gid ang aton creek because of these projects,” Areño stressed. “They reclaimed parts of the waterway when they should not have.”
He added that the probe underscores the need for strict coordination with the LGU for all future infrastructure works, as required by both city ordinance and DPWH’s own guidelines.
“No less than the DPWH requires proper coordination. We simply need to follow the guidelines,” he said.
PROBE DEBUNKS PACANAN’S DENIAL
The DENR-EMB’s findings directly contradict Pacanan’s earlier denial and refusal to acknowledge the concerns of barangay officials and residents, who had repeatedly pointed out the bike lane and slope protection works — built into and narrowing the creek — contributed to the unprecedented flooding.
In August, Pacanan declined to attend the City Council’s hearing in aid of legislation, dismissing it as “in aid of political demolition,” despite not being a political figure.
SEC CLOSES DISCAYA FIRMS LINKED TO PROJECTS
Meanwhile, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has ordered the closure of two companies owned y controversial contractors Sarah and Curlee Discaya — including one that handled three projects whose funding were facilitated by the congressional office of Baronda — for submitting false beneficial ownership information.
SEC’s Enforcement and Investor Protection Department revoked the certificates of incorporation of St. Timothy Construction Corporation and St. Gerrard Construction General Contractor and Development Corporation after discovering they failed to disclose that Sarah Cruz-Discaya was their beneficial owner, a violation of SEC Memorandum Circulars 15-2019 and 10-2022.
Records show St. Timothy bagged three projects in Iloilo City worth P425 million, while another contractor linked to the group, Alpha & Omega, received a P150-million project.
The controversy comes amid scrutiny of unfinished or poorly implemented DPWH projects, including a 600-meter, P400-million flood control structure in Bo. Obrero and two problematic flood mitigation projects in Jaro, which President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. criticized for delays and worsening flooding.
“Sa aking pagbisita sa Iloilo, nakita natin ang mga delayed at palpak na flood control projects na lalo pang nagpapalala ng pagbaha,” Marcos said through his official Facebook page.
He reaffirmed this in a televised press conference last November.
“Noong Agosto, personal kong nainspeksyon ang mga iba’t ibang flood control project. Napunta ako sa Iloilo, nakapunta ako sa Calumpit, at saka sa Baliwag,” he said.
“Doon maliwanag na maliwanag na mga halimbawa ng mga flood control project na hindit inapos o ghost project talaga, hindi man naumpisahan at naging basehan ng ating tuloy-tuloy na pag-imbestiga,” he added.
The Lone Congressional District of Iloilo City is also among the districts with the highest “allocables” under the combined 2023–2025 National Expenditure Program (NEP). The congressional office received ₱1,351,563,000 in allocables per year, plus an additional ₱4,054,689,000 from 2023 to 2025.
According to the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ), allocables “represent a new form of pork because, in the words of the People’s Budget Coalition, they are ‘discretionary, politically motivated,’ and directed toward ‘politically determined projects that crowd out more equitable and accountable public spending.’”
CLEARING WATERWAYS, CRACKING DOWN ON ILLEGAL STRUCTURES
In a related news, DPWH secretary Vince Dizon announced a major policy shift toward clearing waterways of trash and illegal flood structures as part of the agency’s intensified anti-flood campaign next year.
Speaking at a Mayors for Good Governance forum recently, he urged LGUs to support the DPWH’s “Oplan Kontra Baha,” which may start implementation as early as January.
The program includes repairing idle pumping stations and enforcing waste-segregation systems in flood-prone areas.
After earlier launches in Metro Manila and Cebu City, the DPWH introduced the program in Bacolod on Friday last week, following President Marcos’ directive to strengthen nationwide flood-mitigation efforts./PN
