Viral steep stairs in Cagayan de Oro designed for dike monitoring only — DPWH

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region 10 clarified that the viral stairs that are very steep located along the embankment in Cagayan de Oro are not intended for public use.

According to Kuya Kim’s report on “24 Oras” Thursday, netizens poked fun at the stairs due to its unusual steep design, raising safety concerns.

“Na-curious kami na may ganito palang hagdan dito. ‘Yung sa amin kasi, sir, eh napakapormal ‘yung pagkagawa tsaka hindi po delikado,” video uploader Ariel Mapoy said.

In response to the public's reaction, DPWH Region 10 clarified that the stairs are not made for public use.

“Hindi po siya mali for the reason that hindi po siya designed sa community settlers. Para lang po siya sa monitoring na maintenance personnel po ng DPWH,” Spokesperson Roshelle Novie Cabrido said.

(The design, which is not for the use of community settlers, is not wrong. The stairs are used for monitoring by DPWH maintenance personnel.)

Widening the stairs is not possible as it would affect or obstruct the road, the agency also said.

“‘Possible po ba na lagyan ng signage?’ Possible naman po. Para rin po ‘yun sa safety po ng mga bata. Doon sa nag-viral is may railings pa, so baka naman talagang aakyatin po talaga nila ‘yung hagdanan,” Cabrido said.

(Is it possibble to install a signage? It is possible. This is for the safety of the children. The stairs that went viral had railings, so people may actually use the stairs.) — Carby Rose Basina/BAP, GMA Integrated News