FLOOD CONTROL BONANZA: First, fifth district towns in Iloilo are top flood control project recipients

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

The southern Iloilo town of Guimbal and the northern municipalities of Ajuy and Barotac Viejo have emerged as top recipients of government flood and shoreline protection funds, collectively securing major infrastructure projects worth over PHP 1.6 billion since 2022.

This unusually high concentration of projects contrasts with risk assessments by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources–Mines and Geosciences Bureau Region 6 (DENR-MGB 6), which does not list Guimbal among Iloilo’s most vulnerable towns to rain-induced landslides or flooding.

An analysis of infrastructure data from the “Sumbong sa Pangulo” portal shows that Guimbal’s flood-related projects have increased yearly, with five in 2022, eight in 2023, nine in 2024, and at least one already lined up for 2025.

A breakdown of the projects reveals a combination of river control, flood control, revetment works, and shoreline protection initiatives.

Most interventions are clustered around major waterways such as the Jarao, Tangyan, Camangahan, and Buluangan Rivers.

Outside river systems, a significant portion of the budget has been spent on shoreline protection and seawall infrastructure.

While Guimbal lies in a lowland area where rivers converge and flooding occurs frequently, DENR-MGB 6 has not officially designated it as one of the province’s highest flood-risk areas.

Other towns in Iloilo’s first district show a similar concentration of flood mitigation funding, particularly those identified as high-risk.

Miagao, classified as highly vulnerable to rain-induced hazards, has eight flood and shoreline protection projects worth a total of PHP 325 million across locations including the Bacauan-Palaca River, San Jose, Cagbang, Guibongan-Kirayan, and Tumagbok.

San Joaquin, flagged as prone to both landslides and flooding, has seven projects totaling PHP 93 million, including slope stabilization in Antalon, shoreline protection in Barangay Baybay, and river control on the San Joaquin, Quianan, and Siwaragan Rivers.

Tigbauan accounts for five projects worth PHP 64 million, mostly along the Sibalom River and coastal areas like Barangay Barroc.

Igbaras, another town classified as vulnerable, has four projects worth PHP 68 million focused on river control along the Igbaras, Tangyan, and Igtalongon Rivers.

In contrast, Tubungan—identified by MGB as high-risk—has only one recorded project: a PHP 9.7 million flood control structure on the Jar-ao River.

TOP SPENDING IN LOWER-RISK TOWNS

Data also show heavy investments in municipalities not included in the DENR-MGB 6 high-risk list.

Ajuy and Barotac Viejo, both in northern Iloilo, each recorded nine projects.

In Ajuy, Barangay Pili received two separate projects awarded to the same contractor, C’zarles Construction and Supply, based in Butuan City, Agusan del Norte.

Additionally, three flood control projects in Barangay Barrido were awarded to different contractors.

Barotac Viejo exhibits similar clustering, with four major projects in Barangay Poblacion Ilawod and three in Barangay Natividad, all concentrated along the Barotac Viejo River.

Ajuy’s total allocation is PHP 503 million, while Barotac Viejo has PHP 610 million in projects.

Pototan accounts for nine flood control projects valued at PHP 461 million, split between the Jalaur River (six projects) and the Suage River (three projects).

All three Suage River projects, amounting to PHP 149.57 million, were awarded to Roprim Construction Corp.

Dumangas, meanwhile, has seven projects totaling PHP 239.87 million, including three seawall or storm-surge protection structures, three Jalaur River flood control projects, and a high-cost project in Barangay Balabag worth PHP 76.43 million.

This story series examines key findings on flood control projects reported in the Sumbong sa Pangulo portal.