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The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has concluded that the Access Road Section 1 (Bike Lane) Project in Barangay Tagbak, Jaro — a development facilitated by Iloilo City Lone District Representative Julienne “Jamjam” Baronda — played a major role in the severe flooding that hit five barangays in Jaro last July.

This confirmation came through a formal letter from OIC Regional Executive Director Raul Lorilla, following a site validation and investigation carried out by the DENR–Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) Region 6.

The inquiry was launched after the Iloilo City Government sought clarification regarding the project’s compliance, documentation, and funding. The request was prompted by the flooding that swept through Barangays Camalig, Lanit, Balantang, Tagbak, and Buntatala — all situated along the Buntatala Creek — after reclamation and backfilling activities tied to the bike lane construction.

Based on the EMB-6 Investigating Team’s site validation, substantial portions of the Tagbak construction area had been reclaimed and backfilled, resulting in the narrowing of the Buntatala Creek’s natural alignment.

This constriction obstructed the natural water flow in the area and contributed directly to the overflow that inundated surrounding communities.

“The backfilling and earth-filling activities have further obstructed the natural water flow, eventually leading to water overflow onto access roads and adjacent areas,” the report stated.

The bike lane project was facilitated through funding endorsed by Baronda and was implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways-Iloilo City District Engineering Office (DPWH-ICDEO), along with the flood mitigation structure involving the Buntatala Creek.

According to the City Legal Office, Baronda’s projects did not undergo the mandatory requirements outlined under the Philippine Reclamation Authority’s Administrative Order No. 2019-4, including the required feasibility studies, hydrodynamic modeling, and the conduct of a Final Environmental Impact Statement or equivalent assessment.

The construction area was also the site where a 13-year-old boy drowned during the July flooding. The victim was a resident of Zone 3 of Barangay Tagbak.

The bike lane and flood mitigation structures were just two of the projects facilitated by Baronda, who, according to the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ), received more than P5 billion in allocables and non-allocables in the past three years.

Based on multiple media reports, Baronda received P1.75 billion worth of flood control projects during the time of Leyte Congressman Martin Romualdez as House Speaker.

Baronda reportedly received P945,985,191.41 in flood control allocations in 2025, dwarfing the previous amounts of P737.3 million and P71.1 million she received in 2024 and 2023, respectively.

According to records, Baronda’s three projects, worth a total of P425 million, were listed under St. Timothy Construction Corp., and one project, worth P150 million, was awarded to Alpha & Omega General Contractor & Development Corp.

Recently, an unfinished 600-meter flood mitigation structure worth P400 million was discovered in Bo. Obrero, Lapuz. It was funded through the congressional district office and implemented by DPWH-ICDEO.

During his recent visit to Iloilo City, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr criticized the delays and poor implementation of flood control projects after inspecting two flood mitigation structures in Barangay San Isidro, Jaro district.

“Sa aking pagbisita sa Iloilo, nakita natin ang mga delayed at palpak na flood control projects na lalo pang nagpapalala ng pagbaha,” Marcos said in a Facebook post.