Flood control project under construction in Matag-Ob, Leyte already needs repairs

Portions of a flood control project that has been under construction in Barangay Riverside in Matag-Ob, Leyte since February have already collapsed before its September deadline.

According to the report of GMA Regional TV’s Lou-Anne Mae Rondina in “24 Oras” on Thursday, the damage was due to the heavy and non-stop rains on Tuesday. 

The contractor, JV Enterprises, was awarded over P48 million budget for the project. The company began repairs on Wednesday. The firm said the deadline for the project has been extended. 

For its part, the municipal officials had wanted work on the project to halt, citing a lack of coordination.

“We want to request for the postponement of the project because right from the start there was no coordination, even the DPWH did not consult us. We were not included in the planning before the implementation of the project,” said Mayor Bernie Tacoy. 

Aside from the damaged project, there is another one in another part of Barangay Riverside with the same amount and another in Barangay Santo Rosario which costs P96 million. 

The mayor said that the council will pass a resolution to investigate if the flood control projects in their town followed the project’s program of works. 

“The President gave us the right to be involved in the projects being done by the DPWH and the contractors in our municipality. The budget allotted by the congressmen was just put into waste,” Tacoy said. — Vince Angelo Ferreras/RF, GMA Integrated News