DPWH answers criticisms on grabbing credit for Iloilo Esplanade project

Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar on Friday drew criticisms after he posted a drone-captured image of the Iloilo Esplanade project.

In a post on his official Facebook page, Villar wrote, “Drone inspection of the Iloilo Esplanade. #BuildBuildBuild.”

The post has so far garnered 32.1 thousand reactions and at least 5,115 shares.

In the comments section, several netizens were quick to call out the Public Works chief for allegedly credit-grabbing the project with some pointing out that the project, in fact, was opened in 2012.

To address the issue, DPWH Build Build Build Committee chairman Anna Mae Lamentillo said in the comments section, “This photo shows the Iloilo River Esplanade 6, an 850 meter riverside promenade spanning from Jalandoni Bridge to Forbes Bridge. It was funded in both 2017 and 2018. 8 out of 10 Esplanade Projects along Iloilo River were constructed from 2016 to 2020.”

The netizens who pointed out that the project began during the Aquino administration might be referring to the Esplanade 1, Esplanade 1 Extension, and Esplanade 2 which have funding years ranging from 2010 to 2015.

In August 2012, the 1.2-kilometer Iloilo River Esplanade I was formally opened. It stretches from. Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr. Avenue to Carpenter’s Bridge in Mandurriao District.

Senator Franklin Drilon was the one who lobbied for the said project. He was even slapped with a plunder complaint in 2013 for allegedly giving P70 million in priority development assistance fund (PDAF) for the Iloilo Esplanade I project. 

To clarify the issue, Villar said, in a separate Facebook post, “The 9.035 km Iloilo River Esplanade Project extending from Carpenter’s Bridge along Iloilo Diversion Road to Quirino Lopez Bridge to Muelle Loney Bridge is almost complete. Out of the ten esplanade projects along Iloilo River with a total funding of 1.12 Billion php, 8 projects in the amount of 838 million were constructed from 2016 to 2021. #BuildBuildBuild.”

Based on Villar’s post, the Esplanades 3 to 10 have funding years ranging from 2016 to 2020.

Lamentillo told GMA News Online that 6.385 kilometers out the entire 9.035-kilometer stretch of the Iloilo River Esplanade Project were completed from 2016 to 2021.

“There are 10 projects under the plan… with different funding years,” she said.—LDF, GMA News