DPWH admits lapses in Cogon Pardo project

CEBU, Philippines —  Amid concerns over the compromised mangrove area in Cogon Pardo, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) admitted to lapses in securing environmental permits, drawing sharp criticism from Cebu City Councilor Jocelyn Pesquera during an executive session on Wednesday.

Just last week, Acting Mayor Donaldo Hontiveros approved the issuance of a cease-and-desist order against an ongoing development in Cogon Pardo, which was found to endanger the health of the area’s mangroves. While the order remains in effect, the City Council, through a privilege speech by Pesquera, called for an executive session and invited concerned agencies to shed light on the matter.

During the session, Engineer Gemuel Talingting of the DPWH clarified that the project in question was not a road opening but part of a larger flood control initiative. He said the flagged portion was the access road required for equipment to proceed with construction.

According to Talingting, the infrastructure is part of the administration’s efforts to alleviate chronic flooding in the city, particularly in Barangays San Nicolas and Inayawan.

“This is flood control infrastructure,” he said, adding that it aims to prevent private entities from occupying the site for urban development.

“Kay kung maunhan ta nila, wala na gyud ta, hopeless nata sa atong flood control programs, dili na ma establish,” said Talingting.

The project is intended to link Gabuya Street to the main drainage channel at the South Road Properties (SRP). Talingting said the agency is attempting to reclaim the area ahead of potential encroachment.

Although it may appear to be a road, Talingting clarified that the project is actually a drainage system that includes the proper easement. He said his team was only recently assigned to the project, and it was then they discovered that construction had reached the mangrove zone.

He said the proximity to the mangroves only became apparent during construction activities earlier this month.

“We want to apologize sa district, kay kana, duol kaayo. We also questioned the in-charge…Madam Chair, we want to apologize if this happened. Also, to CCENRO and DENR, na there was no clearance yet,” Talingting told the council.

“Our office wanted to correct sad what happened,” he added.

He admitted that the DPWH failed to secure clearance from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), citing the lack of a clear process in previous years.

He noted that the executive session also became a platform to acknowledge and address the agency’s errors.

Talingting assured that all other necessary permits had been secured—except for the one from DENR. He emphasized that their mandate is to deliver infrastructure in a timely manner, and coordination delays with other agencies may have led to procedural oversights.

“Probably, naligsan gyud ang uban kay mao man say mandate sa amoa, nga timely deliverance of the infrastructures, to the point nga murag na bypass na namo ang uban nga processes,” he said. He further underscored the importance of time in public infrastructure development.

Talingting added that the DPWH had already sent a letter to the DENR, the issuing authority of the cease-and-desist order, to request a halt to ongoing works.

“We wanted you to help us also, because all of these, are for the progress of our nation,” he said.

He also proposed that the only solution now would be the earth-balling or transplanting of the mangroves affected by the project. However, his explanations did not sit well with Pesquera, who criticized the DPWH for failing to secure environmental permits from an office located “just next door.”

“Mura kag feeling victim…ang pakasad-on ang laing tawo, wa nimo nakita ang inyong own sala,” Pesquera said. She pointed out that while Talingting claimed they were rushing the project, the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC)—a vital document for any project with potential environmental impact—had already been completed as early as 2024.

“2024 pa, 2025 nata ron, nagdali man kaha mo, nganong wa man nimo na submit sa inyong silingan,” she said.

“Late ka for six months…feeling victim gihapon,” she added.

Pesquera stressed that the destruction of even a single mangrove is already considered a criminal offense and warned that the council cannot simply overlook the violation.

“It does not mean nga mag paspas ta, mu violate kag balaod,” she said, emphasizing that a mandate to act quickly does not excuse the failure to comply with environmental regulations.