‘BIG THREE’: A.D. Pendon, IBC, and Gurrea are Iloilo’s top flood control contractors

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

Iloilo’s homegrown construction companies have emerged as the biggest players in flood control infrastructure across the city and province of Iloilo, securing projects worth billions of pesos since 2022.

Leading the list is A.D. Pendon Construction & Supply, Inc., primarily based in Sto. Niño Sur, Arevalo, Iloilo City, which has won 18 projects totaling PHP 1.094 billion.

Among its costliest undertakings is a drainage system in Iloilo City’s Mandurriao district, completed in March 2024, with a project value of PHP 114 million.

Records show the company’s portfolio expanded rapidly: from just two projects in 2022, another two in 2023, then 13 completed in 2024, and one so far in 2025.

A.D. Pendon’s reach covers the city districts of Mandurriao, Jaro, and City Proper, as well as municipalities including Alimodian, Miagao, San Joaquin, Pototan, Barotac Nuevo, Dingle, Dumangas, and Tubungan.

Securities and Exchange Commission records obtained by Daily Guardian reveal the firm has five stockholders: Aida Pendon, Cipriano Pendon, Jedavil Dumalag, Racney Dumalag, and Jinke Fabria.

Aida and Cipriano are incorporators, with Cipriano serving as chairman and president, while the others are listed with current addresses in Luca, Ajuy.

IBC International Builders Corporation

Close behind is IBC International Builders Corporation, based in Molo, Iloilo City, with 12 flood control projects valued at PHP 973.8 million.

Its top project is a slope protection structure with rockfall netting along the Panay East‑West Lateral Road Package 1 in Iloilo, worth PHP 142.3 million and completed in March 2024.

Other major works include slope protection along the Allbunan River in Calinog, worth PHP 120.6 million, and flood mitigation structures along the Jalaur River in Pototan, valued at PHP 118.3 million.

IBC had seven projects completed in 2024 and five in 2023.

But IBC’s record is marred by controversy as it was the contractor of the defective Ungka Flyover, which required major rectification, and the nearby Aganan Flyover, whose construction has stalled since 2022.

The Ungka Flyover’s cost has escalated to about PHP 975 million, much higher than its original PHP 680 million budget, owing to repairs and improvements due to structural defects.

Meanwhile, the still‑unfinished Aganan Flyover has a total budget of PHP 802 million—with PHP 308 million allocated for completing the original design and an additional PHP 210 million needed for rectification of structural issues similar to those at Ungka.

IBC is also no stranger to scrutiny: in a 2018 exposé by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ), it was ranked No. 6 among top contractors under the Duterte administration, having been awarded contracts worth about PHP 5.25 billion from July 2016 to December 2017.

Under the Aquino administration, PCIJ reported the Iloilo‑based firm ranked fifth nationwide, securing more than PHP 11.5 billion in DPWH contracts.

SEC documents show the company is closely held by the Tan family, with Helen Edith Tan, the lone incorporator, serving as president (38% stake), and Alfonso Tan as board chair (42% share).

Earlier this year,  watchdog group Crimes and Corruption Watch International, Inc. filed graft and corruption complaints against Department of Public Works and Highways Region 6 officials and IBC on allegations of favoritism and irregularities in project awards.

The group accused DPWH 6 officials and Bids and Awards Committee members of violating procurement laws by continuing to award projects to IBC despite defective works and delayed projects.

F. Gurrea Construction, Inc

The third major player is F. Gurrea Construction, Inc. It is a primary component of a much larger, highly diversified business conglomerate known as the F. Gurrea Group of Companies (FGGC), which operates over ten companies.

The company’s leadership consists of Felix Q. Gurrea, who serves as president, and Felvin L. Gurrea, the vice-president for construction.

Notably, Felvin sits as one of the 12 private sector representatives in the Regional Development Council 6, the policymaking body that crafts Western Visayas’ development and infrastructure plans.

Other top flood contractors 

Meanwhile, Stronglane Builders and Trading Corp., with offices in Marikina City and Pangasinan, secured 11 contracts worth PHP 379 million.

Public records show the firm has carved out an almost exclusive niche in the Jalaur River basin, repeatedly winning projects in contiguous sections and even rehabilitation works.

Specifically, Stronglane dominates in four localities: Calinog, Dingle, San Enrique, and Passi City — towns that are connected by the Jalaur River network. In Dingle, it has at least three separate projects awarded.

Panay East Coast Construction & Supply, based in Luca, Ajuy, cornered 12 projects worth PHP 378 million. The firm has established a strategic foothold in Iloilo’s northern towns, with works in Concepcion, Estancia, Banate, and Barotac Viejo.

A 2025 document identified Racney Dumalag as proprietor. Notably, Racney is also a stockholder of A.D. Pendon Construction & Supply, Inc., which raises questions about potential cross-ownership or business connections among top contractors in Iloilo.

Roprim Construction Corp., based in Jaro, Iloilo City, secured six projects worth PHP 249 million. Three of these contracts are concentrated along the Suage River in Pototan.

Monolithic Construction & Concrete Products, Inc., based in Davao City, only landed two contracts. However, one of them — the Slope Protection Structure with Rockfall Netting along Panay East-West Lateral Road Package 2 — cost PHP 142 million, making it one of the most expensive single projects awarded.

Woodland Construction and Supply, Inc. bagged four projects worth PHP 200 million.

MGB Construction & Trading, based in Nueva Ecija, secured only one project, but it is a high-value contract worth PHP 183 million. This involves the construction of a major drainage system within Iloilo City Proper, including La Paz and Mandurriao.

Topmost Development and Marketing Corp., based in Mandurriao, Iloilo City, cornered four projects worth PHP 150 million.