Iloilo city: Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon on Friday graced the formal opening of the road and drainage project in Barangay East Timawa in this highly urbanized city's Molo district, ahead of its July target completion.

According to Philippines News Agency, the construction and rehabilitation of the 477-meter road and drainage infrastructure had been stalled after it was ordered suspended by the local government due to a lack of coordination. Construction works resumed after an inspection by Dizon in April.

"As promised to Mayor (Raisa Tre±as) and the people of Timawa, we are done with this two-year delayed project. It was completed in two months, one month ahead of the target July completion," Dizon said in a media interview. The road traverses key locations such as the main campus of the University of the Philippines Visayas, Iloilo Doctors Hospital, Iloilo Doctors College, and Taal Elementary School.

Dizon mentioned that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has been emphasizing to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) that the public should not endure service delays that have plagued past projects. "It's really unacceptable. People don't deserve it, they deserve better, we all deserve better. We tried our best, and now we will be opening the Timawa road now," he stated.

In addition to the road project, Dizon highlighted that the drainage system has been expanded significantly and now directs water straight to the outfall, reducing flooding. He further committed to extending drainage improvements for 2026 and 2027 and addressing about one kilometer of the sidewalk.

"Our commitment is that it will no longer be two years. We will do it as fast as we can," he assured, urging the public to report any unfinished projects to the DPWH. Meanwhile, he reported that the southbound lane of the flyover in Aganan in Pavia is approximately 70 percent completed and expected to open by the end of this year, while the northbound lane is projected to open in the first quarter of next year.