‘IT IS WHAT IT IS’: Mayor blames DPWH, neighboring town for monstrous flyover traffic jam

By Joseph B.A. Marzan

Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas on Monday blamed the local government unit (LGU) of neighboring town Pavia, Iloilo and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-Region 6 for traffic rerouting schemes that caused debilitating traffic jams at the P680-million Ungka flyover.

The worst traffic congestion so far happened Monday morning due to the road widening project on the Pavia side of the flyover which has been closed to traffic since September 2022 after three of its piers or foundations were found to be sinking.

The congestion affected Iloilo City-bound commuters who were forced to alight from public utility vehicles and walk on the multimillion-peso flyover towards Jaro district.

Treñas called out DPWH-6 for the traffic fiasco.

“What do I do with that? That’s life. We should blame the DPWH for that. I have even threatened to declare [DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan] as persona non grata. Since there isn’t a case against them, they’re just standing idly by,” Treñas said in his regular press conference.

He also pointed to his previous statements over the weekend where he referred to the Ungka flyover as the “Pavia flyover”, saying that the city government was only helping manage traffic there.

Treñas issued the statements even if he led the topping ceremony for the flyover, together with other local and DPWH officials and former Senator Franklin Drilon, who had been credited for securing funds for the flyover.

“It is not called the Iloilo City flyover. We are just helping there [with traffic management], but if there are complaints that we are helping, we will pull out all the traffic aides there so that everyone will just scramble there,” he said.

“We are trying to do what we can for that place. That’s not already part of the city, that is a part of Pavia. But if there is any complaint, especially from the province, we will pull out everyone.”

Treñas also defended Public Safety and Transportation Management Office (PSTMO) chief Jeck Conlu and his personnel relative to a traffic rerouting scheme this weekend which had been the subject of criticisms via social media.

He likewise took a jab against an unnamed appointed employee of a “provincial government” for the latter’s acerbic criticisms against the city government.

“Do not blame the employees of the city. We were not the ones who built it, it’s not our project, it’s of the national government. Should we blame the PSTMO? I don’t think that’s right. I will not allow anyone to belittle an employee of the city government for something that is not their own fault, and if they are willing to fight it out, then I am ready,” Treñas said.

“What I don’t like is that some others just like to make a punching bag out of [city government personnel]. That’s not right, especially for those who are appointed employees. You are appointed employees. Think about it. When you talk, you bring your office with you. If you work in the province, that means you also drag the governor with you in attacking the city? [expletive],” he added.

The traffic rerouting scheme was introduced last week and was first implemented on Saturday and Sunday because of the ongoing road widening works by DPWH.

Under the scheme, vehicles going to Iloilo City must turn right towards Pres. Corazon C. Aquino Ave. (Circumferential Road), then make a U-turn towards Benigno Aquino Jr. Avenue (Diversion Road).

Vehicles going to Pavia must also turn near the Tigum River before they can proceed to their destinations.

Conlu told Daily Guardian that PSTMO and the town of Pavia crafted the rerouting scheme, but it was the latter that managed the traffic at the intersection of the two Aquino Avenues.

He added that they would meet later this week to assess the full 7 days of the rerouting scheme.

Daily Guardian has also reached out to Pavia town mayor Luigi Gorriceta for his reaction to Treñas’ statements, but he has yet to respond as of this writing.