BY GEROME DALIPE IV
ILOILO City – The officer-in-charge of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) – Iloilo City District Engineering Office and Mayor Jerry Treñas finally faced each other a few days after their highly publicized dispute.
Treñas on Thursday confirmed a meeting with Engr. Roy Pacanan and some of his staff members and the City Legal Office.
“I met DE (district engineer) Pacanan upon his request…We both listened to each other,” said Treñas.
But the mayor seemed dissatisfied with Pacanan’s explanation and maintained the “persona non grata” declaration of the district engineer stays.
“The delays have not been explained. Further, OBO (Office of the Building Official) reported to me that there are several DPWH projects on LGU land without approval and building permits in clear violation of the Building Code,” said Treñas.
The mayor said the district engineer needs to rectify those projects that violated the building code.
“Some (projects) have started, about to be completed or completed. The OBO has a list of these projects. The LGU was never consulted. Some can still be rectified but others can no longer be rectified,” Treñas added.
The City Council has declared Pacanan persona non grata on June 10. It stemmed from what Treñas perceived as disrespect and ingratitude from the DPWH city district office.
The conflict escalated when the DPWH city district office vacated a city-owned property at Fort San Pedro without acknowledging their long-term use of the city-owned land and the delays of their projects, which Treñas described as “white elephants” or costly to maintain, but little to no useful return.
Pacanan has released an open letter and apologized to Treñas. He clarified that he assumed office only on Aug. 8, 2023. He noted that the communications regarding the transfer of office location may have commenced before his assumption.
He stressed that they exerted efforts to find a temporary office pending the completion of their new office building in Barangay Sooc, Arevalo, Iloilo City.
Upon receipt of the final demand to vacate their old office at Fort San Pedro, he said they cleared the office on June 6, 2024, and turned over the same on the next day to the city government.
However, the DPWH city district requested the city government to retain its IT room containing its data cabinet linked to the DPWH Central Office for prompt compliance and submission of vital reports and documents./PN
