Pandan council clarifies it did not order stoppage of Pandan-Ibajay Road Project

PANDAN, Antique — The Sangguniang Bayan of Pandan clarified that it did not order the stoppage of the multibillion-peso Pandan–Ibajay Road Project, saying the suspension of project activities was linked to the cancellation of existing Environmental Compliance Certificates (ECCs) by the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB).
The clarification was made during a community dialogue held on August 26, 2026, at Barangay Sta. Ana, Pandan, Antique, which brought together local officials, concerned government agencies and community representatives to discuss the current status of the major infrastructure project.
During the dialogue, Cliff Escobar of the EMB explained that the existing ECCs covering portions of the project had been cancelled by the environmental agency.
With the cancellation, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is required to secure a new ECC covering the entire project before it can proceed, in accordance with environmental regulations.
The Sangguniang Bayan emphasized that the cancellation of the ECCs was an action undertaken by the EMB pursuant to its regulatory authority and mandate and was not ordered by the municipal legislative council.
The council also presented the Committee Report of its Committee on Environmental Protection, Ecology and Climate Change. The report was based on the findings and observations of the Local Multi-Sectoral Review Committee, which conducted an assessment of the project and its environmental concerns.
According to the report, the review identified adverse environmental impacts associated with the implementation of the road project.
Among the concerns raised were siltation, landslides, flooding and other potential hazards that could affect the safety, structural stability and long-term usefulness of the infrastructure if left unaddressed.
“Ang siltation, landslides, pagbaha, kag iba pa nga mga risk nga nakita, kun mapabayaan, mahimo nga maka-apekto sa safety, kalig-onan, kag kapuslanan kang proyekto,” the council said.
The Sangguniang Bayan stressed that its position is not against the road project but calls for the project to comply with environmental and technical requirements before implementation continues.
Seven recommendations
To address the concerns, the Sangguniang Bayan issued seven recommendations:
Full compliance with all environmental requirements;
Immediate completion and maintenance of all mitigating measures;
Technical review of existing mitigation measures;
Disclosure of the Comprehensive Feasibility Study;
Review of project design assumptions and hazard assessment;
Strengthening coordination between the DPWH and local government units; and
Conduct of a high-level dialogue with DPWH decision-makers.
The municipal council emphasized that the road project involves billions of pesos in public funds, making proper planning, construction and environmental safeguards crucial to ensure that the investment benefits communities for generations.
“Indi lang importante nga matapos ang proyekto. Mas importante nga siguruhon naton nga ang bilyon-bilyon nga kwarta kang publiko indi mausik—kundi ang dalan MAGAMIT kag MAPUSLANON para sa aton mga kasimanwa kag sa masunod nga henerasyon,” the council said.
Officials also stressed the importance of ensuring that the road is properly designed, safely constructed and equipped with adequate mitigating measures against environmental and geohazard risks.
The community dialogue was attended by barangay officials from Perfecta, Sta. Ana, Aracay, Badiangan and San Joaquin, who participated in discussions concerning the project and its possible impacts on their communities.
Representatives from the DPWH, DENR-CENRO and DENR-EMB also attended the dialogue and provided information on the project’s current status and environmental requirements.
The Sangguniang Bayan said continued dialogue and coordination among the DPWH, local government units, environmental agencies and affected communities will be necessary to help move the Pandan–Ibajay Road Project forward while ensuring environmental compliance, public safety and the long-term interests of residents.