Iloilo City Cong. Jamjam Baronda’s ‘Bike Lane’ Project Caused Severe Flooding in 5 Jaro Barangays, DENR Says

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has confirmed that reclamation and backfilling activities linked to the Access Road Section 1 (Bike Lane) Project in Barangay Tagbak, Jaro, which was facilitated by Iloilo City Lone District Representative Julienne “Jamjam” Baronda, significantly contributed to the severe flooding that affected five Jaro barangays in July.

The findings were released through a formal letter by OIC Regional Executive Director Raul Lorilla after a site validation and investigation conducted by the DENR–Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) Region 6.

The probe was initiated following the Iloilo City Government’s request for clarification on the project’s compliance, funding, and documentation after the widespread flooding in Barangays Camalig, Lanit, Balantang, Tagbak, and Buntatala, all lying along the Buntatala Creek.

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.