BY DAVE SUAN ALBARADO

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region VII has admitted that the P3.5 billion Loboc River flood control project is proceeding without a finalized feasibility study or a comprehensive master plan.

During a joint committee hearing of the Bohol Sangguniang Panlalawigan on June 24, 2026, DPWH Region VII Officer-in-Charge Assistant Regional Director Nonato Paylado acknowledged the lack of planning documentation.

He admitted that while the agency has sought to develop a master plan since 2022, funding constraints have hampered these efforts.

Paylado explained that existing budget allocations have been prioritized for physical construction rather than project development.

According to the DPWH, a requested P25 million for planning in the 2023 budget was slashed to P1 million under the General Appropriations Act. Subsequent allocations of P5.5 million in 2025 and P10 million in 2026 have been delayed or remained unreleased.

Furthermore, Paylado noted that funds currently earmarked for nine specific flood control projects cannot be legally diverted to cover feasibility studies or master planning.

Despite the lack of a master plan, the agency maintained that the project is grounded in technical necessity, citing severe soil erosion and landslide risks that threaten infrastructure in Loboc.

The DPWH expressed readiness to collaborate with stakeholders to explore alternative engineering solutions that balance safety with environmental issues.

Project Background

The Loboc River flood control project has faced intense scrutiny due to its substantial P3.5 billion budget and its potential impact on one of the Philippines’ premier tourism destinations.

The Loboc River is a vital artery for the local economy, supporting hospitality businesses, boat operators, and traditional livelihoods.

Critics and environmental advocates have raised fears that heavy concrete infrastructure could irreversibly damage the river’s ecosystem and threaten the aesthetic value that drives the town’s tourism industry.

Regulatory Requirements for Infrastructure Projects

Under the Philippine government’s infrastructure development framework, feasibility studies are critical components of the project lifecycle.

According to guidelines set by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), major capital projects—particularly those exceeding specific cost thresholds—are required to undergo a rigorous appraisal process.

This process typically includes:

Feasibility Studies: To assess technical, economic, financial, and environmental viability.

Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA): Mandatory for projects that pose potential risks to natural resources, requiring an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

Investment Programming: Projects of national significance often require approval from the NEDA Board to ensure they align with the Philippine Development Plan before receiving full funding.

The absence of these studies at an advanced stage of implementation has drawn criticism from local officials regarding the transparency and long-term planning of the project.

Legislative Oversight

The status of the project was reviewed by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan’s Committee on Environment and Natural Resources and the Committee on Public Works and Highways, chaired by Board Members Jiselle Rae Aumentado Villamor and Nathaniel Binlod, respectively.

The June 24 hearing was attended by representatives from the DPWH, the DENR, the Loboc People’s Council, the Loboc Association of Hospitality Accommodation, and local government officials, including Loboc Mayor Raymond Jala.

The committee finalized its report, which was approved and adopted during a regular session presided over by Vice Governor Nicanor Besas on June 30, 2026.

INVESTIGATE

Provincial lawmakers in Bohol have launched an investigation into a P3.5-billion river protection project amid fears it could cause environmental damage and threaten one of the province’s top tourist destinations.

Members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan initiated the inquiry after tourism stakeholders, environmental groups and residents raised alarms over alleged alterations to the Loboc River’s natural ecosystem.

The other Saturday, members of the provincial board’s Committees on Environment and Public Works conducted an ocular inspection of the project site in Loboc town, led by Board Member Atty. Jiselle Rae Aumentado Villamor-Tan, chairperson of the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources.

Representatives from the Bohol Provincial Environment Management Office, Bohol Tourism Office, Loboc Association of Hospitality and Accommodation, Loboc People’s Council and Loboc Mayor Raymond Jala joined the inspection.

Stakeholders have alleged that portions of nipa vegetation and other natural riverbank features were removed during construction activities. They also expressed concerns over the installation of steel sheet piles and other structural interventions that they fear could disrupt sensitive ecosystems, including firefly habitats that attract tourists to the area.

“The issue is not opposition to development or flood control,” Villamor said in remarks before the provincial board. “Infrastructure projects must be implemented in a transparent, science-based and environmentally responsible manner while taking into account the concerns of affected communities.”

Villamor has called for immediate public disclosure of project documents, including the Environmental Compliance Certificate, environmental permits, technical studies and compliance reports.

Board Member Lucille Lagunay called for a multi-stakeholder dialogue involving government agencies, experts, tourism operators and affected residents.

“The true measure of development is not merely the structures we build but the wisdom with which we preserve the natural heritage entrusted to our care,” Lagunay said.

The issue has been referred to the provincial board’s Committees on Environment and Public Works for further investigation.

Officials are expected to invite representatives from the Department of Public Works and Highways Region 7, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, local officials and other stakeholders to explain the project’s design and environmental safeguards.

The controversy comes amid heightened national scrutiny of flood control projects following a Commission on Audit report that flagged alleged irregularities in trillions of pesos worth of contracts.

The scandal prompted the creation of an Independent Commission for Infrastructure and the suspension and replacement of DPWH officials.