No ghost, substandard infra projects in Iloilo City: source

By Francis Allan L. Angelo

There are no ghost or substandard infrastructure projects in Iloilo City funded by the national government under the 2024 and 2025 General Appropriations Acts, according to a source who spoke to Daily Guardian on condition of anonymity due to lack of authority to speak to the media.

Records from various agencies show that out of 21 flood control projects, 3 have been completed while 18 remain under construction.

“There are no ghost projects in Iloilo City. There are ongoing flood control projects, but you cannot say these are palpak, as these are still ongoing or part of multi-year, multi-phase projects,” the source added.

“How can you say these are ineffective when these are not yet fully completed. Even if these are done, when the connecting outfall is not yet finished, you still cannot say that it is ineffective. We cannot put in place in just one year all the flood control projects needed to fully solve the flooding problem of Iloilo City. We are doing these phase by phase or year by year because the government has budgetary constraints.”

Of the 18 projects, eight are suspended due to obstructions from informal settlers, private property, and a power barge; force majeure caused by multiple tropical depressions; delays in related sections that prevent site access, and the presence of mangroves.

Four projects have been imposed with liquidated damages or fines due to the delays.

The completed projects include the Construction of the Flood Mitigation Structure (Section 1) in Mohon worth PHP 90.9 million; the Construction of Flood Mitigation Structures in Iloilo City – Drainage System 1 in Dungon Creek worth PHP 9.85 million; and the Construction of Flood Mitigation Structure – Iloilo City Flood Control Project Section 9 in Buntatala Creek worth PHP 39.4 million.

Ongoing or suspended projects include the following:

1. Construction of Flood Mitigation Structure in Iloilo City, Section 10 in San Isidro worth PHP 144 million, 76.52% completed, suspended due to obstruction from informal settlers.
2. Section 9 in San Isidro worth PHP 144 million, 89.62% completed, with liquidated damages.
3. Section 1 in Bo. Obrero, Lapuz worth PHP 141 million, 98.83% completed, with liquidated damages.
4. Section 2 in Bo. Obrero, Lapuz worth PHP 141 million, 98.26% completed, with liquidated damages.
5. Waterways Rehabilitation and Coastal Protection, Section 1 in Bo. Obrero, 51.47% completed, suspended due to a power barge.
6. Iloilo City Access Road Section 1 in Tagbak worth PHP 48.8 million, 90.62% completed, with liquidated damages.
7. Revetment Rehabilitation, Jaro Floodway (Left Bank) in Tacas worth PHP 96 million, 74.87% completed, suspended due to force majeure.
8. Comprehensive Flood Mitigation Project Section 1 worth PHP 144 million, 35% completed, ongoing.
9. Waterways Rehabilitation and Coastal Protection Section 2 in Mohon worth PHP 119 million, 84.64% completed, ongoing.
10. Comprehensive Flood Mitigation Project Section 1 in Mohon worth PHP 143 million, 30.38% completed, ongoing.
11. Along Dungon Creek, Dungon B worth PHP 34 million, 81.49% completed, suspended due to informal settlers.
12. Within Iloilo City Waterways, Section 3 in Buntatala Creek worth PHP 102 million, 21.44% completed, suspended due to waterline obstructions.
13. Section 1 in Lapuz worth PHP 48 million, suspended pending completion of a related project section.
14. Improvement and Canal Lining of the Drainage Canal, Sta. Barbara River Irrigation System in Jaro worth PHP 29 million, ongoing.
15. Promenade along Batiano River, Section 1 worth PHP 144 million, suspended due to mangroves and private settler obstruction.
16. Batiano River, Section 2 worth PHP 96 million, suspended for the same reason.
17. Calajunan Creek worth PHP 125 million, 76.91% completed, ongoing.
18. Coastal Protection Section 11 worth PHP 39 million, 50.37% completed, ongoing.

The source also emphasized that some of these projects were discussed in a meeting with then-Mayor Jerry Treñas on Oct. 19, 2022, and some were even requested by him.

The Iloilo City District Engineering Office has repeatedly stated in its reports to the DPWH Regional Office and City Hall that it has submitted all required documents and has coordinated with barangay stakeholders during implementation.

As for contractors linked to the controversial Discaya couple, the source said their companies participated in competitive bidding processes where they both won and lost projects, alongside other local contractors.

Mayor Raisa Treñas-Chu earlier alleged these projects were non-functional, flood-causing, or practically non-existent, which ICDEO has repeatedly refuted earlier.