INSPECTION. A portion of the flood mitigation project being implemented along the Iloilo River in Barangay Mohon in the Arevalo district during the ocular inspection on Tuesday (Sept. 2, 2025). Mayor Raisa Treñas said they are seeking help from experts to determine whether the flood control projects are causing the flooding incidents in Iloilo City and several barangays in Oton town. (PNA photo by Perla Lena)
ILOILO CITY – The local government here is seeking help from experts to determine whether the ongoing construction of various flood control projects contributes to flooding incidents in the city and adjacent barangays in Oton town.
In an interview on Tuesday, Mayor Raisa Treñas said they are tapping experts from the Central Philippine University and the University of the Philippines (UP).
"Our project with UP will start this month. We wanted to review the projects so that our judgment and solutions to the problem would be scientific," she said, adding that the study is expected to end in November.
Treñas made the statement as she led the ocular inspection of the flood mitigation project in Barangay Mohon in Arevalo district.
She was joined by Oton Mayor Sofronio Fusin Jr., Community Environment and Natural Resources Officer Armin Halili, representatives from the Office of the Building Official and barangay officials.
Section one of the project along the Iloilo River in Barangay Mohon, spanning 200 meters to 300 meters, is funded under the General Appropriations Act of 2024 worth PHP90.92 million.
It is being implemented by St. Gerrard Construction General Contractor and Development Corp., as shown at the project billboard mounted beside the project.
Another funding support worth PHP143.3 million for the same section of the project was also being implemented by the YPR General Contractor and Construction Supply Inc.
Mohon Punong Barangay Rico Francis Acap said almost half of the river was encroached by the project.
He said they experienced flooding during Tropical Depressions Crising and Dante, something that they never experienced before.
Meanwhile, Fusin said seven of their barangays were submerged in the water level due to the rise in the water level at the Iloilo River and Batiano River.
The flooding, as high as shoulder level, lasted for four days.
He said there was no coordination from the Iloilo City District Engineering Office (ICDEO) since the project is within Iloilo City.
Halili, on the other hand, said they could not immediately say with "precision" that a big area of the river was recovered for the project based on the manual inspection alone.
As mandated by law, there has to be a three-meter easement from the bank of the river.
"We need to relocate the old cadastral line. Considering that the survey of Iloilo City was (conducted in) 1911 and 1912, we will have difficulty with the record," he said.
The option is for them to secure all titled lots adjoining the body of water from the Assessor and the Registry of Deeds.
Thereafter, they will request from the Registry of Deeds the technical description of lots that will serve as the basis for the survey.
Treñas said that ever since, the ICDEO has not coordinated with the city government for its projects.
ICDEO has other flood mitigation projects in the Lapuz and Jaro districts.
She said that hopefully, with close coordination with Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon, the concerns of Iloilo City will be heard. (PNA)
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