Ombudsman urged to probe Iloilo City flood infras

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

Former Senate President Franklin Drilon has called on the Office of the Ombudsman to investigate Iloilo City’s flood control projects and renewed his call for the removal of Iloilo City District Engineering Office officer in charge Roy Pacanan amid questions over alleged project anomalies and his qualifications.

“I call on the Ombudsman to hasten the investigation of the flood control projects here in the city,” Drilon, an Ilonggo, said at a press conference on Tuesday, Feb. 10.

A Daily Guardian review of data from the Department of Public Works and Highways Region 6 and the Iloilo City District Engineering Office showed that 22 flood mitigation projects were awarded between 2024 and 2025.

More than PHP 2.2 billion worth of flood control projects are currently underway in Iloilo City, with nearly half of the total amount—about PHP 901.4 million—channeled to construction firms linked to the embattled Discaya family.

Drilon said an Ombudsman investigation is necessary, citing what he described as numerous flood control projects whose costs he said could not be justified.

“I don’t know how the Discayas got into the city. They were never here before. When I was still actively promoting infrastructure projects in Iloilo, the Discayas were nowhere. Then suddenly, they appeared,” he said.

Records showed that Discaya-owned firms first entered Iloilo City around 2017, during the term of then-congressman Jerry Treñas.

Their first project in the city was the PHP 75 million construction of slope protection and river improvement along the right bank of the Iloilo River, from Muelle Loney Bridge (Rizal Bridge) to Muelle Loney Bridge (Drilon Bridge), undertaken through Alpha & Omega General Contractor & Development Corp.

‘RELIEVE PACANAN NOW’

Drilon also urged Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon to relieve Pacanan from his post, citing alleged anomalies in flood control projects and questions over his qualifications.

“I understand that he is not qualified, and the Civil Service Commission has already issued a ruling that he’s not qualified. But up to now, he’s still working here,” Drilon said.

Earlier in January, Dizon said Pacanan failed to meet the Civil Service Commission’s qualification standards required for district engineers.

Pacanan was designated as officer in charge of the Iloilo City District Engineering Office through a special order dated Aug. 1, 2023.

As of the latest available records on the DPWH website, no official order effecting Pacanan’s removal has been issued.