ILOILO CITY — The local government has turned to experts after mounting complaints that ongoing flood control projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) are aggravating, rather than preventing, flooding in the city and in nearby Oton town.
Mayor Raisa Treñas said the city has tapped specialists from the University of the Philippines (UP) and Central Philippine University (CPU) to conduct an independent study of the controversial projects.
“Our project with UP will start this month. We want to review these projects so our judgment and solutions will be scientific,” Treñas said, noting that results are expected by November.
Treñas made the announcement while leading an inspection of the flood mitigation project in Brgy. Mohon, Arevalo, together with Oton Mayor Sofronio Fusin Jr., Community Environment and Natural Resources Officer (CENRO) Armin Halili, representatives from the Office of the Building Official, and barangay officials.
The Mohon project, funded at P90.92 million under the 2024 General Appropriations Act and implemented by St. Gerrard Construction General Contractor and Development Corp., is among those under scrutiny. A separate P143.3-million allocation for the same section is handled by YPR General Contractor and Construction Supply Inc.
Mohon Barangay Captain Rico Francis Acap claimed that the construction has eaten up almost half of the river’s width. He said residents experienced flooding during tropical cyclones “Crising” and “Dante,” something they had never faced before.
For his part, Fusin reported that seven barangays in Oton were submerged for four days, with floodwaters rising to shoulder level. He also criticized the lack of coordination from the Iloilo City District Engineering Office (ICDEO), which implements the projects within city limits but affects their municipality.
Halili added that under the law, a three-meter easement must be maintained along riverbanks. However, verifying compliance is difficult because Iloilo City’s cadastral survey dates back to 1911 and 1912.
He said a fresh technical survey anchored on updated land titles and registry records is needed before authorities can determine whether the project has encroached on the river.
Treñas lamented that the ICDEO has consistently implemented flood mitigation projects without coordination with the city government, not only in Arevalo but also in Lapuz and Jaro districts. She expressed hope that with direct communication to Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon, the concerns of Iloilo City residents would finally be addressed.
