Jaro road repairs not yet final, MPIW assures permanent fix

By Gerome Dalipe IV

Metro Pacific Iloilo Water (MPIW) has clarified that the asphalt overlay installed in portions of Barangay San Isidro, Jaro, Iloilo City is temporary restoration work and not yet the final road repair, as the area remains under pipeline testing.

In a statement, Bea Melliza, head of MPIW’s Corporate Affairs Department, said the asphalt layer was placed only as a temporary cover over newly laid pipelines while hydrotesting is ongoing.

Hydrotesting is a standard pressure test used to verify whether newly installed pipelines can safely operate and are free from leaks before being covered by permanent road restoration.

Melliza explained that once hydrotesting is completed and the pipelines pass the required standards, the company will proceed with permanent restoration or road reblocking to fully restore the affected areas.

“Rest assured that the roads will be restored to their original condition,” Melliza said.

The clarification came after reports that a portion of the recently repaired road in Barangay San Isidro had subsided, drawing concerns from residents in the area.

Several motorists also raised concerns about the asphalted road section.

San Isidro Barangay Captain Ronela Juaniza earlier said she would immediately coordinate with MPIW to address and repair the damaged portion of the road.

MPIW, meanwhile, acknowledged that permanent repair works had already been scheduled but were delayed due to persistent rainy weather.

The company also said the subsided temporary restorations have been scheduled for immediate rectification.

Melliza said only some pipe-laying areas are currently undergoing hydrotesting.

She added that permanent restoration will begin upon the successful completion of hydrotesting.

“All pipelined areas will undergo hydrotesting and must pass before permanent restoration or reblocking works begin,” she said.

The company also assured the public that all affected roads will be properly restored after testing and infrastructure works are completed.

MPIW is the water distribution utility serving Iloilo City and the municipalities of Oton, Santa Barbara, Cabatuan, Maasin, San Miguel, Pavia, and Leganes, according to its company profile.

The company operates under the Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC) group of companies, one of the Philippines’ largest infrastructure conglomerates.