‘ENOUGH IS ENOUGH’: Pacanan to Treñas: Stop Rehashing Old Requests

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor and Gerome Dalipe IV

The simmering dispute between the Department of Public Works and Highways-Iloilo City District Engineering Office (DPWH-ICDEO) and the Iloilo City Engineering Office (CEO) has emerged as a political sideshow in the city’s tense administrative climate.

DPWH-ICDEO officer-in-charge Engr. Roy C. Pacanan slammed what he described as “vexatious and abusive requests” from Mayor Jerry Treñas’ office, citing repeated demands for documents that his agency had already submitted.

In a memorandum dated April 10 addressed to DPWH Region 6 Director Sanny Boy O. Oropel, Pacanan said his office had already responded to earlier memos from City Hall dated March 10 and March 21 regarding project funding and documentation.

“The matter of the request for supporting documents has already been addressed in our response dated April 1, 2025,” Pacanan wrote.

He stressed that the DPWH-ICDEO’s responses were sufficient and should resolve any pending or future requests on the same issues.

While reaffirming the agency’s commitment to transparency, Pacanan warned that repeated requests bordering on harassment must not be tolerated.

“We are mandated to respond to public queries and official communications, but we must also recognize and guard against abusive or repetitive requests,” he wrote.

The city mayor had earlier criticized DPWH-ICDEO for allegedly withholding information on delayed projects and their sources of funding.

But Pacanan pushed back, stating the DPWH is a national agency separate from the city government.

“I am not a subordinate of the Mayor, nor is our office an extension of the city government,” he said. “We serve, but we are not his servants.”

The DPWH-ICDEO is a regional line agency under the national government, while the CEO operates under the city government as a local department.

The DPWH-ICDEO also implements infrastructure projects initiated by Iloilo City lone district Rep. Julienne Baronda, who is at political odds with Treñas.

Pacanan also accused Treñas of peddling “baseless accusations” and failing to address issues surrounding city-funded projects, including the La Paz Market, Jaro Big Market, Arevalo Market, Iloilo City Hospital, and nearly 190 other infrastructure initiatives.

He emphasized that a large portion of these projects was funded through loans and that the public deserves accountability.

Pacanan also flagged the lack of building permits for several USWAG multi-purpose buildings constructed between 2012 and 2018, when Treñas was the city’s congressman and current City Building Official Engr. Mavi J. Gustilo was with the DPWH as officer-in-charge of the Construction Section.

He said the DPWH has remained professional and responsive, continuing project implementation despite bureaucratic challenges.

The DPWH-ICDEO has previously alleged political persecution by the city government, citing delayed building permit approvals as a tactic.

Pacanan referenced Memorandum Circular No. 5, Series of 2020, which provides guidelines for identifying vexatious Freedom of Information requests, and asked Oropel to review recent correspondence from City Hall using this policy.

He said the volume and tone of requests since July 2024 should be assessed for possible abuse of the FOI mechanism.

He also confirmed that the memorandum from the city’s Office of the Building Official had been forwarded to DPWH Secretary Manuel M. Bonoan, with the district office deferring to the central office for further action.

To streamline future communications, Pacanan recommended that the city government and its offices send official documents directly to the DPWH-Iloilo City District or the Central Office to avoid unnecessary administrative delays.

In response, Treñas said he only wants the DPWH-ICDEO to account for the delayed projects and their funding.