‘FIX THE BOTTLENECK’: Pacanan Urges City Hall to Direct Issues to ICDEO

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

The indirect communication between the city government and the Department of Public Works and Highways–Iloilo City District Engineering Office (DPWH-ICDEO) is stalling efforts to resolve alleged delays in infrastructure projects, according to its top official.

ICDEO officer-in-charge Roy Pacanan said the city’s practice of routing letters through the DPWH Region 6 office is creating “unnecessary administrative bottlenecks,” making it difficult for the ICDEO to respond promptly.

“We, therefore, recommend that all pertinent concerns be addressed directly to our office to ensure timely resolution,” Pacanan wrote in a letter to Mayor Jerry Treñas on Wednesday, April 23.

Pacanan’s letter followed ICDEO’s refusal to receive a cease and desist order from the city government regarding its road and drainage project in Barangay San Pedro, Jaro, because the order was addressed to DPWH Regional Director Sanny Boy Oropel, not to the district office.

“The document was fairly declined to be received by this office as it was not directly addressed to any personnel of DPWH-ICDEO,” he said.

“All matters will be addressed accordingly upon the endorsement from the regional office, following the governing protocols,” he added.

The city government confirmed that the cease and desist order was initially sent to Oropel and has since been resent directly to Pacanan by mail.

Treñas has issued several memoranda regarding ICDEO’s allegedly delayed projects, but some were also directed to Oropel.

Issues concerning the ICDEO’s funding sources were likewise raised directly with DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan.

Pacanan also defended ICDEO from growing criticism, noting that only a few of the 197 district engineering offices nationwide face similar permitting issues with local governments.

He said tensions worsened after the city government evicted ICDEO from its old headquarters in Fort San Pedro in June 2024 and declared him persona non grata.

Despite the conflict and what ICDEO described as a campaign of “complaints and allegations,” the agency reaffirmed its commitment to infrastructure development and public service in the city.

“We remain steadfast in upholding the highest standards of public service, guided by the core values of our Department,” Pacanan said.