Flood control probe stalls as ICDEO blocks document release

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

The Iloilo City Council’s effort to scrutinize flood control projects has hit a roadblock after the Department of Public Works and Highways–Iloilo City District Engineering Office (DPWH-ICDEO) refused to release requested documents, citing national-level reviews and legal restrictions.

Councilor Rex Marcus Sarabia, lead proponent of the City Council’s Quad Committee on Waterways, confirmed the denial Sunday, Nov. 15, calling it a major setback to transparency efforts involving alleged anomalous flood control structures.

On Oct. 29, the quad committee sought copies of feasibility studies, detailed engineering designs, project impact analyses, bid bulletins, project contracts, payment records, inspection reports, and statements of work accomplished for flood control projects from 2022 to 2025.

“Our demands for transparency have been denied […] this denial is a great blow to the progress of our investigation. I fear that if we the people are kept in the dark like this, we may never have the complete solutions we deserve,” he said.

Sarabia said the City Council’s inquiry is neither punitive nor prosecutorial.

“There is no intention to prejudice whatever suspected violations of the law on the part of the ICDEO. The pure intention is to solve the flooding problem in our city and to prevent the same from happening again,” he said.

He added that examining potential lapses in planning, procurement, or implementation would help lawmakers strengthen safeguards and prevent future wastage of public funds.

Sarabia also noted that, to date, there is no indication that the Independent Commission for Infrastructure, the National Bureau of Investigation, or the Office of the Ombudsman has acted on the alleged anomalies involving district flood control projects.

“We risk keeping ineffective laws that do not even work to protect the people from danger. To fight for what is right has always been hard but at least for now, we have tried our best,” he said.

‘Premature prejudicial disclosure’

In a Nov. 3 letter to Sarabia, ICDEO officer in charge Roy Pacanan said the requested materials are under review by a national investigative body, and releasing them now would constitute “premature prejudicial disclosure.”

“Our office may not be in a position to release the requested information and documents at this time,” he said.

Pacanan cited Executive Order No. 2, series of 2016, particularly its provision on prejudicial premature disclosure; an October 2025 memorandum from DPWH-6 on releasing flood project documents; and the Local Government Code’s lack of authority granting fact-finding powers to the City Council.

He added that the ICDEO has already turned over the documents to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure, which is conducting its own review.

“The flood control and infrastructure matters remain under the review of the ICI. Your request at this stage may be considered premature prejudicial disclosure […] Our office will also await the completion of its review,” Pacanan said.

He added that DPWH-6 Assistant Director Al Fruto advised that data may be released only at the request of the ICI or other agencies with established fact-finding mandates.

Pacanan also argued that the City Council does not have authority to investigate national infrastructure projects.

Allowing such a probe, he said, could overlap with ongoing investigations by the NBI, ICI, and the Office of the Ombudsman.

“Any parallel inquiry would not only be redundant but could also prejudice or interfere with the investigation already under the legal authority of these competent investigative bodies created by law or legal order,” he said.

Pacanan advised the City Council to focus first on city-funded projects requiring documentation, such as the Molo waiting shed, the roofing of the footbridge along Benigno Aquino Avenue, and other unfinished or nonfunctional city projects.

“It behooves one to set his own house before seeking into the affairs of others,” he said.