Flood control projects in Iloilo City are delayed, not missing

By Mariela Angella Oladive

Concerns over the implementation of flood control projects in Iloilo City remain high, particularly on coordination, transparency, and documentation.

Despite controversies, many of these projects are proceeding as part of a long-term flood mitigation plan.

The renewed scrutiny comes amid a nationwide investigation into flood control initiatives ordered by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

In recent weeks, the city government inspected flood control sites in Lapuz, Tagbac, Mohon, and Bo. Obrero, where several Department of Public Works and Highways–Iloilo City District Engineering Office (DPWH-ICDEO) projects were questioned.

During an August 21 inspection in Lapuz, barangay officials criticized projects along Mansaya-Budburan Creek as poorly coordinated.

City inspectors also flagged missing feasibility studies, detailed engineering designs, and environmental permits.

However, documents obtained by Daily Guardian show Mansaya Creek was identified as a flood-prone priority area as early as 2012, with an updated feasibility study reportedly developed in later years, according to a source who requested anonymity.

The source said the study includes a 20- to 25-year roadmap of phased dredging, revetment, and drainage works, with current projects falling within this plan.

Coordination, the source added, was undertaken during the proposal stage, citing a 2022 post by then-Mayor Jerry Treñas on his meeting with DPWH-ICDEO, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and Rep. Julienne “Jam-jam” Baronda.

Treñas previously announced that funding for flood mitigation projects, including seawall and housing components, had been secured.

Local reports indicated that Rep. Baronda secured PHP 1 billion through the General Appropriations Act with support from national officials.

The 2017 Iloilo City Comprehensive Drainage Plan estimated PHP 6.2 billion was needed to fully complete the city’s flood mitigation program.

Baronda earlier expressed hope the full amount could be delivered over a six-year timeline.

From December 2022 to July 2023, Treñas held meetings with DPWH to address drainage and pumping station issues in La Paz and Lapuz, while coordinating with barangay leaders to relocate affected households.

In Barangay Mohon and Bo. Obrero, Lapuz, several projects tied to contractors linked to the Discaya family—including St. Gerrard, St. Matthew, St. Timothy, Alpha and Omega, and YPR—were flagged for discrepancies in DPWH-ICDEO records.

Mayor Raisa Treñas-Chu had earlier alleged that some of these projects were non-functional, flood-causing, or practically non-existent—claims that the DPWH-ICDEO has consistently denied.

“There are no ghost projects in Iloilo City. These are ongoing flood control works, and you cannot call them palpak when they are still under construction or part of multi-year, multi-phase projects. Effectiveness can only be measured once the connecting outfalls and related components are completed,” said a source familiar with the projects.

The source also emphasized that flood control cannot be achieved in just one year due to budget constraints.

“The projects are usually implemented phase by phase because of government limits. A local project can only have an allocation of up to PHP 150 million.” the source added.

Delays, the source noted, are often caused by road right-of-way issues, land disputes, or physical obstructions.

When negligence is traced to the contractor, liquidated damages are imposed under the terms of the contract.

The ICDEO projects in said areas include:

Lapuz Projects

Construction of Flood Mitigation Structure in Lapuz, Iloilo City, Section 1

• Contractor: St. Timothy Construction Corporation
• Amount: ₱141,855,006.72
• Status: 98.83% accomplished; ongoing liquidated damages since Aug. 27, 2025
• Effectivity Date: February 26, 2024
• Original Expiry: December 16, 2024 (295 calendar days duration)
• Revised Expiry: August 26, 2025

Construction of Flood Mitigation Structure in Lapuz, Iloilo City, Section 2

• Contractor: St. Timothy Construction Corporation
• Amount: ₱141,799,122.88
• Status: 98.26% accomplished; ongoing liquidated damages since Sept. 2, 2025
• Effectivity Date: February 26, 2024
• Original Expiry: December 16, 2024 (295 calendar days duration)
• Revised Expiry: September 1, 2025

Construction of Flood Mitigation Structure – Waterways Rehabilitation and Coastal Protection, Section 1, Iloilo City

• Contractor: St. Timothy Construction Corporation
• Amount: ₱119,418,737.94
• Status: 51.47% accomplished; suspended since June 9, 2025 due to obstruction by MORE Power Barge Bridge

Mohon Projects

Construction of Flood Mitigation Structure (Section 1), Iloilo City

• Contractor: St. Gerrard Construction Gen. Contractor & Development Corp.
• Amount: ₱90,929,717.93
• Status: 100% completed (as of June 15, 2025)
• Effectivity Date: February 26, 2024
• Original Expiry: October 27, 2024 (245 days calendar duration)
• Revised Expiry:June 15, 2025

Construction of Flood Mitigation Structures – Waterways Rehabilitation and Coastal Protection, Section 2, Iloilo City

• Contractor: St. Matthew Gen. Contractor & Development Corp.
• Amount: ₱119,418,701.53
• Status: 84.64% accomplished; project ongoing
• Effectivity Date: February 20, 2024
• Original Expiry: November 14, 2024 (268 calendar days duration)
• Revised Expiry: Dec. 9, 2025

Construction of Iloilo City Flood Mitigation Structures – Iloilo City Comprehensive Flood Mitigation Project, Section 1

• Contractor: YPR Gen. Construction and Construction Supply, Inc.
• Amount: ₱143,303,900.68
• Status: 42.33% accomplished; project ongoing
• Effectivity Date: June 3, 2025
• Original Expiry: March 24, 2026 (295 calendar days duration)

Buntatala Project

Construction of Flood Mitigation Structure – Iloilo City Flood Control Project, Section 9

• Contractor: Roprim Construction
• Amount: ₱39,497,128.10
• Status: 100% completed (as of May 24, 2025)
• Effectivity Date: February 19, 2024
• Original Expiry: August 19, 2024 (184 calendar days duration)
• Revised Expiry: May 24, 2025

These projects form part of 21 DPWH-ICDEO flood control initiatives scheduled between 2024 and 2025.

While Malacañang’s transparency portal Sumbong sa Pangulo lists nearly 10,000 flood control projects from July 2022 to May 2025, several ongoing Iloilo City projects worth hundreds of millions are absent from the database.

It remains unclear whether this omission is due to incomplete records or lack of proper disclosure.