‘HALF-TRUTHS AND LIES’: DPWH-Iloilo City slams city government’s order

By Joseph Bernard A. Marzan

District Engineer Roy Pacanan of the Department of Public Works and Highways–Iloilo City District Engineering Office (DPWH-ICDEO) denounced Mayor Raisa Treñas-Chu’s cease-and-desist order (CDO) on Friday, July 25, calling its basis “half-truths and outright lies.”

In a letter dated July 25 and received by the mayor’s office that same day, Pacanan cited a July 18 interview on Aksyon Radyo Iloilo with “alias Piolo,” a Barangay Tagbak resident in Jaro, who said flooding along Buntatala Creek had been a long-standing problem since the early 2000s.

Pacanan also referenced a geotechnical study by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology that identified Barangay Tagbak as flood-prone.

He disputed the mayor’s claim that the DPWH failed to coordinate with the city government, citing a Feb. 15, 2024 letter and 16 monthly status reports submitted by his office.

“Unfortunately, despite these efforts, it was only when Iloilo City experienced flooding in various areas that this Office received a delayed official response from the City Government,” Pacanan wrote.

He added, “It seems that you were misled by your own people or you simply ignored the facts before you issued the order.”

Pacanan insisted the DPWH had widened the creek and described circulating photos suggesting otherwise as fabricated.

“Contrary to the circulating photographs online, the river — originally measuring approximately 1.50 to 2.00 meters in width — was, in fact, widened to an opening of 3.00 to 4.00 meters downstream, thereby facilitating the unimpeded flow of water,” he said.

He also aligned his findings with those of the Iloilo City Task Force Drainage, which had attributed flooding to unmaintained waterways, overgrown trees, and blocked creek channels.

“Contrary to the intent of the Cease-and-Desist Order, the Iloilo City Task Force Drainage, which you created, recommended the completion and extension of the project to the designated outfall — the Buntatala Bridge, ultimately leading to the Jalaur Dam,” he wrote.

Pacanan further argued that the CDO lacked legal basis, citing DPWH Circular No. 01, series of 2024, which prohibits local orders stopping national infrastructure projects.

“Taking into account the want of factual and legal grounds, the Cease and Desist Order is legally INVALID,” Pacanan said.

He claimed the order was “ultra vires,” or beyond legal authority, and hinted at political interference, referencing a similar order from former Mayor Jerry Treñas.

“Should you persist to implement the said order, we will not take this matter sitting down,” he warned.

“We shall pursue all available legal remedies under existing laws, including the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, to protect the interest of the government.”

In response, Mayor Treñas-Chu dismissed Pacanan’s submission of progress reports as proper coordination.

She said the projects violated provisions of the Local Government Code of the Philippines by proceeding without prior coordination.

“The truth remains: that these projects were implemented without due coordination in clear violation of the Local Government Code,” Treñas-Chu said.

She also continued to refer to the projects as “reclamation projects,” despite Pacanan’s claim that the creek had been expanded, not narrowed.

The mayor said her office will issue an official response once she formally receives Pacanan’s letter.