A Blueprint, Not Bickering

While residents in the Jaro district barangays of Balantang, Buntatala, Camalig, Tagbak, and Lanit cleared their homes of floodwater, a different kind of deluge inundated the public sphere: a torrent of accusations between the city’s top elected officials.

The political spat between Mayor Raisa Treñas and Representative Julienne Baronda over a delayed drainage project is more than just a distraction; it is a disservice to the very people they were elected to serve.

As our leaders trade barbs, they are missing the forest for the trees. The real story is not about one contentious project but about the systemic failures that make such conflicts and crises inevitable.

The most sober voice in this entire affair belongs to Donna Magno, head of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), who correctly diagnosed the problem as a lack of “systems thinking.”

This is the crux of the issue. The public finger-pointing is a dereliction of duty, a failure of governance that prioritizes blame over collaborative problem-solving. To be fair, both leaders are reacting to legitimate pressures. The Mayor is responding to an immediate crisis, hearing directly from citizens whose homes—some for the first time—are inundated. The Representative, on the other hand, is defending a long-term project designed to be a solution, frustrated by a seven-month suspension due to a lack of local government clearance.

Both perspectives are valid, yet both are critically incomplete. They are single data points in a complex system. Without an overarching framework, every project, every delay, and every flood becomes a potential political flashpoint. This is precisely why the push by the City Planning and Development Coordinator for a comprehensive Drainage Master Plan is not just a good idea, but an absolute necessity.

(To recall, former mayor Jerry Treñas, father of the incumbent mayor; and Rep. Baronda had both pledged to realize the master plan.)

A master plan would serve as the city’s blueprint for water management, an apolitical guide dictating what infrastructure is needed, where it must be placed, and how it connects to the larger network. It would pre-emptively answer the very questions being debated today and provide a unified strategy that both the city government and the congressional office can work towards.

We call on both Mayor Treñas and Representative Baronda to cease the public hostilities and channel their considerable influence into the immediate, collaborative creation and adoption of this vital document. Their constituents need a unified plan, not a divided leadership.

However, a blueprint alone is not enough if we continue to pave over the problem. Magno’s observation that ongoing development likely contributed to the worsening flood risk in Jaro is a critical warning. As Iloilo City grows, its footprint of concrete and asphalt expands, sealing the earth and preventing rainwater from being absorbed naturally. Every new subdivision, road, and commercial complex funnels more water into a drainage system that, in many places, is already antiquated and overburdened.

We are not arguing against progress. Development is essential for Iloilo’s vibrant economy. It is, however, a firm challenge to our city’s planning bodies and developers to pursue smarter, more sustainable growth. Are we assessing the “carrying capacity” of our drainage before approving new, large-scale constructions? Are developers simply allowed to connect to an overtaxed system, externalizing the cost of flooding onto nearby communities?

The time has come for a “Flood-Conscious Development” policy. This must include mandatory water-sensitive urban design for all new projects, requiring features like permeable pavements, green roofs, and on-site rainwater collection systems to reduce surface runoff. Furthermore, a flood impact assessment should be a non-negotiable requirement for any significant new development.

The flooding in Jaro and the political fallout are two sides of the same coin: symptoms of a reactive, piecemeal approach to governance and urban planning. Iloilo City can continue down a path of isolated projects and political infighting, or it can commit to the difficult but necessary work of creating a resilient and sustainable future.

For the families whose homes are now in the path of recurrent floodwaters, they need a blueprint, not more bickering.