Iloilo, DPWH execs trade blame over stalled projects

Iloilo Mayor Jerry Treñas. —Arnold Almacen/Iloilo City Mayor’s office

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — Mayor Jerry Treñas expressed anew his frustration over delays in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) drainage improvement and infrastructure projects in this city, costing billions of pesos that could adversely affect the community should these continue to be stalled.

The mayor criticized the DPWH-Iloilo City District Engineering Office (ICDEO) for blaming the delay on the city’s Office of the Building Official (OBO), when it was the agency that had been failing to meet the local government’s requirements.

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“What can the OBO do if they (DPWH-ICDEO) do not comply?” said Treñas, who has been vocal about his dissatisfaction with the DPWH-ICDEO’s handling of government projects, citing missed deadlines and subpar quality as key concerns.

The tension between the city government and the DPWH-ICDEO intensified following a recent memorandum from DPWH-Western Visayas Director Sanny Boy Oropel directing DPWH-ICDEO Roy Pacanan to comply with the necessary building permits for seven stalled projects here.

Pacanan, in turn, criticized the OBO for “procrastination,” saying the delays in permit issuance hindered the progress of crucial infrastructure projects, such as the rehabilitation of the Mandurriao public market and the construction of several multipurpose buildings across Iloilo City. —Ruchelle Denice Demaisip