The Iloilo City Government is moving forward with efforts to address flooding through a comprehensive survey of the Jaro River, which will provide essential data for river rehabilitation, flood mitigation, and the protection of affected communities.
Mayor Raisa Treñas said that the City Government has allocated P6,028,860 to fully fund the Cadastral Line Delineation Survey of the Jaro River, a project that had remained pending for several years due to funding constraints.
The survey will establish the exact boundaries of the river, identify areas with encroachments or illegal occupation, and determine the legal easements that must be protected.
According to Treñas, siltation and structures along the river have contributed to flooding by narrowing some portions of the waterway.
The survey will cover the entire stretch of the Jaro River, from the boundary of Pavia to its mouth at the Iloilo Strait.
The mayor said she requested DENR Region VI Regional Executive Director Atty. Ramar Niel V. Pascua to fast-track the project during their recent meeting.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will oversee the procurement of technical survey services and provide the City Government with survey maps and a technical report.
Treñas said the City Government decided to shoulder the full survey cost instead of waiting for the national government’s counterpart funding, allowing the long-delayed project to move forward.
“This project has been pending for several years because of funding concerns. When I assumed office, I instructed our team to find a way to fund the entire survey rather than wait any longer,” she said.
The survey is also expected to complement the recently completed hydrologic study commissioned by the City Government and conducted by experts and scientists.
The findings of both studies will serve as important references in preparing the updated Comprehensive Drainage Master Plan of Iloilo City, which will guide long-term flood mitigation measures, river rehabilitation, and relocation requirements for affected families.
“We need accurate data so we can properly plan our flood mitigation measures, river rehabilitation and relocation requirements for affected families,” Treñas said.
Meanwhile, the City Government continues to implement immediate flood mitigation measures, including drainage declogging operations that have covered more than 18 kilometers across the city.
Treñas emphasized the importance of sustained coordination with the DENR and other government agencies to advance projects that will strengthen flood management and protect communities from flooding.
