DPWH vows to finish Molo drainage project in 3 months

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By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has committed to completing a stalled PHP 9.8 million drainage project along East Timawa Road in Molo, Iloilo City, within three months after it was suspended last year due to permit issues.

DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon ordered the accelerated completion following an inspection on Wednesday, April 15 after Iloilo City Mayor Raisa Treñas-Chu raised concerns over the prolonged delay.

The project, costing PHP 9,780,000.17, involves constructing a drainage structure along a section of Timawa Avenue.

It is being implemented by the Iloilo City District Engineering Office (ICDEO) and contracted to Noe’s Builder.

Based on the DPWH website, the project commenced on Feb. 20, 2025, and was originally scheduled for completion by July 5, 2025.

However, it remains largely unfinished, with only 1.82 percent accomplishment as of the latest update.

“I went to an unfinished road construction in Timawa, where I was informed that no development had been made for almost two years, and I only found out about it earlier, and it irked me since we have another project that has been delayed for almost two years,” he said in an interview.

“[We have to] finish the Timawa road construction in three months,” he added.

During the inspection, Dizon said he spoke with students and teachers from a nearby nursing school who complained about the project’s impact, citing worsening traffic congestion and flooding in the area.

In a minute-long clip posted on DPWH’s Facebook page, Dizon also lamented that he had not been informed earlier about the situation.

“Imagine, for two years, people here have been complaining daily,” he said, as he directed concerned offices to coordinate closely with the city government and ensure work resumes within the week.

ICDEO officer-in-charge Engr. Johnny Jose Pura confirmed that the project had been “suspended.”

On June 10, 2025, the city government issued a cease-and-desist order against the project due to the contractor’s failure to secure required permits.

These included an excavation permit, a mayor’s permit, a barangay clearance, and an approved road closure ordinance.

“It appears that the implementing agency failed to properly coordinate with the concerned offices of the Iloilo City government in violation of Department Order No. 110 of the DPWH,” the order reads.

It further stressed that ICDEO’s noncompliance with the mandatory “conduct of consultation/coordination with the local government unit deprived the undersigned necessary information and specification of the said projects.”

In a statement on Thursday, April 16, the former mayor confirmed that the suspension order was issued during his administration following a review that found multiple irregularities and noncompliance with regulatory requirements.

He said the project lacked coordination with the Iloilo City Council for the passage of an ordinance temporarily closing a portion of the affected road.

“The ICDEO failed, and continuously failed, to coordinate with the local government unit during that time. As the former father of the City, it is my steadfast commitment to improve the lives of our beloved Ilonggos while safeguarding the Rule of Law,” he said.

At the time, the ICDEO was headed by Engr. Roy Pacanan, who has close ties with Iloilo City Lone District Rep. Julienne “JamJam” Baronda, a political rival of the Treñas family.