Ex-mayor Treñas seeks probe into Baronda projects after Jaro floods

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

Former Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas has called for an investigation into infrastructure projects by lone district Rep. Julienne “Jam” Baronda, which are allegedly linked to severe flooding in five barangays in Jaro district.

“I cannot simply stay idle and silent as my fellow citizens suffer from the recent flooding incidents,” he said in a statement on Wednesday, July 5.

Heavy rains over the weekend inundated several homes in Barangays Camalig, Lanit, Tagbak, Balantang and Buntatala.

Barangay officials blamed the flooding on several of Baronda’s projects, including a culvert installation along Buntatala Creek and a bike lane or revetment wall built over the creek.

“I call upon the central offices of the Department of Public Works and Highways and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to immediately investigate the allegations of our barangay officials and residents in these five barangays in Jaro,” Treñas said.

He also urged project proponents to consider Iloilo City’s natural hazards before implementation.

“Not only is Iloilo City coastal, it is at the intersection of many waterways that flow to the sea. Much of the area is also low-lying and estuarine in nature,” he said.

The city’s Drainage Task Force reported that slope protection work from one of the ongoing projects encroached on Buntatala Creek, narrowing the already constricted waterway and reducing its capacity to drain floodwaters.

A culvert installed along the same creek was also flagged for being undersized and inadequate to handle storm runoff.

“While these creeks may be an afterthought to some, they are vital waterways that ensure excess water is properly discharged during typhoons, thunderstorms and other rain events — especially in a setting such as Iloilo City,” the former mayor said.

Mayor Raisa Treñas, in an interview with Bombo Radyo Iloilo, also expressed concern, echoing claims that certain infrastructure may have worsened the flooding.

“The problem is that the creek was covered just to build a bike lane. Who in their right mind would block water flow like that?” she said. “Instead of helping the people, the project caused harm. I really feel for the residents.”

Baronda denied that her projects caused the flooding, saying the issue predates the infrastructure work.

Citing a former barangay captain in Balantang, she said flooding has been a decades-old problem in the barangay and its surrounding villages.

She added that the goal of the projects is not only to build bike lanes or revetment walls but also to ensure accessibility for emergency vehicles.

“It’s a passageway. In times of fire or floods, firefighters and responders will have a route,” she said.

Baronda emphasized the need to focus on solutions instead of blame.

“If there’s a problem, we need to find a solution — not resort to finger-pointing, especially if we are not certain,” she said.