Mayor dismayed by delay in P200-M housing project

By John Noel E. Herrera

Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas expressed dismay over delays in the construction of a P200-million housing project at Barangay San Isidro in Jaro district.

Treñas stressed that the bidding for the Uswag Residential Complex project was finished early last year and the notice of award was given to the contractor in November 2022, but construction work has remained slow until now.

“November gin award na (to the contractor), ti asta subong kita niyo to kung ano gina ubra nila. Amu na nga I’m very unsatisfied,” he said in an interview.

“Waay sila may gin hatag nga rason (for delays) amu na ginaakigan ko,” Treñas added.

The mayor also said that he already wrote a letter to the National Housing Authority (NHA) central office asking for its commitment to fast-track the construction of the housing units.

The residential complex could help address the housing backlog in the metro, according to Treñas, citing that many informal settlers need relocation sites due to the city’s development projects.

He previously said that Iloilo City is facing more than 15,000-housing-unit backlog and the city government needed around 2,700 housing units to relocate informal settlers on the banks of the Jaro and Batiano rivers and in Brgy. San Pedro alone.

Meanwhile, Treñas warned that he would terminate the contract with Shalom Construction (contractor of the project) due to the delays, but the NHA gave them another chance to finish the project on time.

“Ang siling ko kung hindi nila maubra, ti i-terminate ta na lang, pero siling nila hatagan nila chances. I have already instructed the city engineer to monitor the project. I’ve been going there, kit-an namon na,” Treñas said.

“Ti sayang pa na, amu na nga gina dali-an ko. Ang commitment man nga matapos nila as scheduled in December and if they have to work for 24 hours, they will work for 24 hours,” he added.

The city government, together with the NHA, held a ground-breaking ceremony for the said four five-story low-rise buildings in 2022, which were funded through the General Appropriation Act (GAA).

Each of the four buildings will have 60 dwelling units with a floor area of 24 square meters each for a total of 240 units which will cost close to P180 million.

While the remaining P20 million will be used for land development comprising survey works, road works and parking, drainage works and outfall, sewer lines, water distribution system, power distribution system, street lights, and community facilities.