Iloilo City’s government has reached out to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan, pressing for quicker action on the engineering project at Calle Real, also known as JM Basa Street. In a letter sent on December 17, 2024, Mayor Jerry Treñas highlighted the urgency of completing the project on one of the city’s busiest streets in the historic downtown area. The project, managed by the City District Engineering Office, was initially slated for completion by December 13, but District Engineer Roy Pacanan sought an extension to December 16. However, the mayor noted that the project’s current pace suggests a completion date of December 20, 2024, which he criticized as showing a lack of urgency and insensitivity to the needs of over 500,000 Iloilo City residents affected by the delays. Additionally, Treñas mentioned receiving complaints from nearby municipalities about the inconveniences caused by the ongoing works, including heavy traffic and disruptions to local business and commerce. The project, valued at PHP49.4 million, involves the installation of a drainage system, the rehabilitation of Plazoleta Gay, and the addition of curb and gutter along with thermoplastic pavement markings. Supervising project engineer Dave Belarga had previously announced plans to expedite the project to finish the left side by early December, with a temporary halt planned for the second week of December to accommodate holiday celebrations including Christmas, the Dinagyang Festival, and Chinese New Year in January. The goal was to have the affected road sections open to traffic by mid-December.
