Substandard? Archival seeks explanation from DPWH after flood control collapse

Local

A FLOOD control structure meant to shield residents of Barangay Budlaan, Cebu City from erosion is now collapsing.

Mayor Nestor Archival said on Thursday, September 11, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has some explaining to do.

Sections of the riprap at the NHA Bridge in San Roque Ville gave way this week after strong water currents, exposing what Archival described as glaring “construction defects.”

In an interview shortly after his site inspection, Archival said the flooring was built without steel reinforcement, and the base lacked the solidity required for riprap projects.

“Dili gyud to mao pagkatrabaho. Mga bato ra ang gibutang sa foundation. Mao na ig-igo sa tubig, hunlang foundation, mangatagak ang mga wall,” Archival told reporters.

Engr. Meyrick Balaga of the Cebu City Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW), who joined the inspection, explained in a Facebook Live broadcast that the flooring of the riprap structure had no steel bars and was not solidly built.

“Ang flooring walay kabilya, dili solid ang ilawon. Ang design sa riprap unta solid with kabilya aron dili mahugno inig kusog sa tubig, pero wala man mao nang nadaot,” Balaga said.

The riprap was built under a DPWH contract in 2019, according to information obtained by the mayor. Archival has since ordered the city engineering office to submit a detailed report identifying accountability.

The incident comes on the heels of growing public frustration over unfinished or defective DPWH projects in Cebu City.

Just a day before the inspection, Archival met with DPWH contractors to warn them against delays and substandard work.

“Ang mga tawo sa Cebu City gikapoy na sa mga project nga way human-human. If contractors cannot finish on time and with proper quality, then they should face penalties,” he said.

The mayor is pushing for stricter enforcement, including financial sanctions of up to five percent of contract costs for each day of delay and possible blacklisting of noncompliant firms.

For the Budlaan case, Archival said the immediate concern is ensuring the safety of residents.

“Makita nato nga nangatagak na ang pader. Eventually, kung dili ma-address, maapektuhan gyud ang mga balay sa kilid,” he warned.(TGP)