Iloilo City mayor orders halt to flood control projects amid design irregularities

Iloilo City Mayor Raisa Treñas-Chu has ordered a halt and review of all ongoing flood control projects due to alleged irregularities and discrepancies in project designs.

The review was prompted by faulty designs observed in a P91 million flood mitigation project in Barangay Mohon, Arevalo, awarded to St. Gerrard Construction General Contractor and Development Corp., a firm linked to the Discaya family.

Mayor Treñas-Chu stated that in some projects, waterways intended for flood protection were constructed as bike lanes or access roads, potentially exacerbating flooding issues.

She also noted that vital project details such as contract ID, start date, and target completion date were not disclosed in the project transparency report.

The construction for the Barangay Mohon project reportedly began in January of the current year.

Five flood control projects are currently underway, all handled by firms associated with contractor Sarah Discaya.