The Contrasting Fates of Two Overpasses in Iloilo City

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By Mariela Angella Oladive

There’s something poetic about overpasses.

Rising above the chaos of city life, they offer unburdened paths away from the hum of traffic and hurried jeepneys.

But what happens when they fall victim to neglect—or evolve into symbols of broader societal challenges?

As 2024 ends, two pedestrian overpasses in Iloilo City captured public attention for vastly different reasons.

On Luna Street in La Paz, an aging structure faces demolition after years of underuse and neglect.

Meanwhile, along Diversion Road in Mandurriao, a modern overpass is slated for a multi-million-peso upgrade to enhance safety and accessibility.

These contrasting fates reveal much about the city’s development and decisions shaping urban life.

Overpass Turned Shelter

The Luna Street overpass, once hailed as a solution for pedestrians crossing between West Visayas State University (WVSU) and Iloilo National High School (INHS), is now a relic of the 1990s, left underused and decaying.

A space originally designed to facilitate movement now serves a different purpose: shelter for the homeless.

In an April 2024 press briefing, Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas described the overpass as a white elephant, emphasizing its obsolescence.

“I’ve been contemplating its removal. It would be more practical to take it down since it no longer fulfills its purpose,” Treñas said.

For some, the structure’s decline has become inconvenient.

A former WVSU student remarked, “The overpass is no longer useful; it’s just a nuisance.”

Ace, a resident of La Paz and former student at INHS and WVSU, now working in a private company in the city, recalled using the overpass as a hangout spot during his school days.

“Crossing it was a hassle—it’s far from the main gate, and you still have to climb up,” he said.

Safety concerns have also plagued the structure.

Poor lighting and its enclosed design have turned it into a hotspot for theft or worse, particularly at night.

Another student noted, “We were told to avoid it for our safety.”

The overpass, however, has become a lifeline for the homeless, like Toto, a 42-year-old father of three, who once sought refuge beneath the structure.

“If you ask us to leave, we have no choice. But we’ll still sleep on the pavement because we have no home,” he said before eventually finding help.

His story reflects the broader issue of homelessness in the city, where an estimated 15,000 families face a housing backlog, according to the Iloilo City Local Housing Office in a July 2024 report.

Mayor Treñas also noted that the city’s housing deficit could reach 20,000 units for informal settler families and low-income earners.

Overpass Upgrades Ahead

While the Luna Street overpass faces demolition, another overpass on Diversion Road in Mandurriao is getting a major facelift.

The city has allocated over PHP 4 million to install a roof over this newer overpass, initially built in 2015.

This renovation aims to enhance safety and usability, with the addition of better lighting and repairs to deteriorated elevators.

The project reflects the city’s efforts to modernize its infrastructure and make it more inclusive.

The city’s commitment to improving this overpass represents the promise of growth—a modern city taking steps to meet the needs of its people.

However, even this well-intended project hasn’t escaped scrutiny.

Some residents questioned the allocation of funds.

A local commented sarcastically, “Are they using the roof material from the Great Wall of China?”

Others raised concerns about informal settlers taking over the space, questioning if the city’s priorities should focus on solving bigger issues like homelessness rather than just making the structure more polished.

In response to criticism, Engineer Jonberlie Ladua of the City Engineer’s Office assured that the budget estimate aligns with Commission on Audit-approved financial standards.

In 2025

In 2025, these cases could serve as benchmarks for evaluating Iloilo City’s progress in addressing urban challenges.

The contrasting fates of the Luna Street and Diversion Road overpasses illustrate the city’s approach to navigating growth and modernization.

Iloilo City has positioned itself as a hub of progress, with a real estate boom, expanding infrastructure, and a cultural renaissance.

However, questions about infrastructure planning, maintenance, and repurposing will remain critical.

The Luna Street overpass’s decline is a cautionary tale about the consequences of neglecting public structures, while the Diversion Road overpass showcases the potential of reinvestment.

These issues are part of a continuous narrative about how cities balance progress with sustainability and inclusivity.

The Luna Street overpass’s transformation into a shelter for the homeless underscores systemic failures in addressing poverty and housing insecurity, prompting the question: How many more “Totos” are out there?

This issue ties into larger conversations about Iloilo’s inclusivity.

Who benefits from urban development? Are the city’s most vulnerable being left behind?

These questions will remain relevant as Iloilo continues to grow and redefine its identity.

The decisions surrounding these overpasses reflect the city government’s approach to planning and governance.

The demolition of the Luna Street overpass could be seen as a failure to adapt infrastructure to evolving needs.

Meanwhile, the investment in the Diversion Road overpass suggests a commitment to improving pedestrian safety—but raises questions about why similar investments weren’t made earlier.

As Iloilo continues to market itself as a model city in the region, this story serves as a reminder of the work still needed to align that image with realities on the ground.

The contrasting fates of these overpasses symbolize the broader choices cities make: what to preserve, what to demolish, and what to invest in.

Public spaces are not just functional—they carry meaning.

The Luna Street overpass, in its decline, and the Diversion Road overpass, in its renewal, are metaphors for how a city sustains or neglects its commitments to its people.