ILOILO CITY—A P101.32-million flood control project in Lapuz district has been terminated after stalling for more than two years, with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) citing unresolved obstructions and the failure to relocate informal settlers as primary reasons.
The project, formally titled ‘Rehabilitation of Mansaya Creek’ (Contract ID No. 23G00051), was supposed to span 2,396 lineal meters across Barangays Lapuz Norte, Don Esteban, and Sinikway. It was designed at 14.5 meters wide and three meters high.
But on September 16, 2025, DPWH-Western Visayas pulled the plug on the contract, which had been awarded in February 2023 to YPR Gen. Contractor and Construction Supply Inc., a firm owned by the controversial Discaya couple.
In a letter to Mayor Raisa Treñas dated September 18, former DPWH-Western Visayas Regional Director Joel Limpengco admitted the project had become “inaccessible” and “beyond the agency’s control.”
“The primary challenges include the persistent presence of obstructions, notably the non-removal of informal settlers, and the consequent inaccessibility of the project site,” Limpengco wrote. He added that despite “diligent efforts” to resolve the issues, work could not proceed.
DPWH records show the contract began on February 10, 2023, with an original completion date of March 27, 2024. However, progress stood at only 0.02 percent when the project was terminated.
A 2024 report by the City Local Housing Office identified at least 63 families as informal settlers along Mansaya Creek. They were supposed to be relocated to Barangay San Isidro, Jaro, but the plan was never carried out.
The project also faced regulatory hurdles. It was among eight flagged by the Environmental Management Bureau, which ordered a review and temporarily suspended its permit processing with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
Mayor Treñas lamented the termination, warning that weak coordination between national and local agencies leads to wasted resources.
“Projects for our people should not go to waste,” she said. “Stronger collaboration between national agencies, the local government, and barangay officials is vital to ensure these are completed.”
Treñas maintained that if the DPWH had engaged barangay officials and the city government more closely, the project’s obstacles could have been addressed earlier.
The failed Mansaya Creek rehabilitation was meant to improve flood control and drainage in one of Iloilo City’s most flood-prone areas. Its cancellation leaves residents vulnerable as the city braces for more intense rains and floods linked to climate change.
