A solar street lights project facilitated by Iloilo City Lone District Rep. Julienne “Jamjam” Baronda has come under scrutiny after records showed that each post installed in two barangays in Mandurriao costs about ₱1.3 million.
The amount is based on data posted on the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) website, which lists a total project cost for 30 solar street light posts installed from Barangay Hibao-an Sur to Barangay Hibao-an Norte.
According to the DPWH, the project was awarded by the DPWH Iloilo City District Engineering Office (ICDEO) to St. Gerard Construction, a firm owned by Curlee and Sara Discaya.
Barangay officials said they were not consulted prior to the project’s implementation. Barangay Captains Ariel Mirar of Hibao-an Norte and Rodlen Gallenero of Hibao-an Sur confirmed that representatives from the ICDEO merely visited their barangays to introduce themselves, but no public consultation was conducted and no detailed project briefing was given to residents.
In a radio interview, Baronda said the project would still proceed but acknowledged that its implementation would be slightly delayed.
The controversy comes amid wider questions surrounding Baronda’s congressional allocations. Earlier, the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) reported that Baronda received more than ₱5 billion in both allocable and non-allocable funds over the past three years.
Separate media reports also showed that she received ₱1.75 billion worth of flood control projects during the term of Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez as House Speaker. Records further indicate that Baronda was allocated ₱945,985,191.41 in flood control funds in 2025—significantly higher than the ₱737.3 million she received in 2024 and ₱71.1 million in 2023.
Documents show that three projects worth ₱425 million were awarded to St. Timothy Construction Corp., while another project amounting to ₱150 million went to Alpha & Omega General Contractor & Development Corp.
Recently, an unfinished 600-meter flood mitigation structure worth ₱400 million was discovered in Barangay Obrero, Lapuz. The project was reportedly funded through the congressional district office and implemented by the DPWH–Iloilo City District Engineering Office.
During a recent visit to Iloilo City, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. criticized the delays and substandard 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.
