All flagged flood control projects verified on-site

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By Mariela Angella Oladive

Five flood control projects previously flagged by the Iloilo City government as “could not be located” have been verified through site inspections that confirmed project billboards and, in some areas, ongoing construction.

The projects were initially listed as untraceable in the Status Report on Ongoing Infrastructure Projects in Iloilo City, which Mayor Raisa Treñas-Chu submitted to the Mayors for Good Governance (M4GG) on September 18 and made public on September 21.

In her transmittal, Treñas-Chu cited a document from the Iloilo City District Engineering Office (ICDEO) dated July 31, which reported that five of the 17 flood mitigation structures could not be located due to unspecified contract locations or a lack of visible progress.

She noted that some projects were suspended due to obstructions caused by illegal structures along city waterways.

“This is the result of uncoordinated planning with the Iloilo City Government,” Treñas-Chu wrote, adding, “The LGU has always been ready to provide housing sites to those affected by the projects, had there been proper coordination.”

The mayor emphasized that the report was submitted to promote transparency and accountability in public infrastructure governance.

A separate site verification on September 22, joined by Daily Guardian, confirmed that all five projects have billboards posted at their respective locations, although only the Batiano River sites displayed contract ID numbers.

In Barangay Calajunan, Mandurriao, two billboards under A.D. Pendon Construction and Supply, Inc. were visible.

One billboard was for the construction of flood mitigation structures along Calajunan Creek, with a revised cost of PHP 125.9 million and a project timeline from February 20 to November 19, 2025.

Another billboard was for flood mitigation structures under the Iloilo City Waterways and Coastal Protection Program, Section 11, with a cost of PHP 39 million and a project period from June 3 to December 3, 2025.

Along the Batiano River in Barangay Calumpang, Molo, two billboards under F. Gurrea Construction, Inc. carried Contract ID 25GJ0019 for a flood mitigation structure and promenade, Section 1, with a budget of PHP 144.6 million from February 20 to December 11, 2025, and Contract ID 25GJ0054 for a flood control structure, Section 2, with a budget of PHP 96.4 million from June 16, 2025, to February 15, 2026.

In Barangay Huervana, La Paz, a billboard was posted for the construction of a flood mitigation structure, Section 1, also under A.D. Pendon, with a project cost of PHP 48.1 million and a schedule from February 20 to August 31, 2025.

City records show that the Batiano River projects (25GJ0019 and 25GJ0054) were suspended due to site inaccessibility caused by mangrove coverage and informal settlers.

The La Paz project (25GJ0020) was suspended in May pending the completion of related project sections. All suspended projects had less than one percent accomplishment or no construction activity at all.​

Meanwhile, the Calajunan projects (25GJ0023 and 25GJ0051) are reported as ongoing, with 77 percent and 50 percent completion, respectively.

All five projects are implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways–ICDEO and funded under the 2025 General Appropriations Act.