Residents raise concern over damaged Mandaue flood control project amid downpour

Residents expressed their concern over the collapse of a portion of a flood control project in Barangay Paknaan in Mandaue City, Cebu following several days of heavy rain.

According to Fe Marie Dumaboc’s Thursday report on “24 Oras,” the sheet piles collapsed as the PVC materials serving as the retaining wall against flooding gave way.

“Minsan umaabot sa tuhod, minsan dito sa baywang. Wala... kasi hindi pa yan tapos,” resident Hannah Nasuli said.

(The floodwater sometimes reaches knee level or waist level. The barrier has no effect because it’s not done yet.)

“Takot kami dahil ang dalawang ref namin nasira tapos kinumpuni ulit. Ang motor namin nasira, dahil pag baha diretso ang taas,” resident Bebe Sayon said.

(We’re afraid because the motor of our two refrigerators was damaged because of the flood.)

Declared completed

The P46-million flood control project was declared complete in July 2020.

Based on the inspection report of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Cebu City Engineering District, attached to a memorandum dated August 26, about 130 meters of the project have uneven and tilted sections at the back of the sheet piles.

This supposedly made the said portion to be structurally unstable thus unable to withstand the pressure from the overflowing water.

The DPWH removed the tilted materials to prevent accidents, but GMA Regional TV observed the remaining sheet piles along the Butuanon River.

Immediate repair of the damaged portion of the project must be implemented in accordance with the approved design specifications.

However, GMA Regional TV did not find any contractors working on-site.

GMA Regional TV has reached out to DPWH and the contractor, but they have yet to respond.

According to the Mandaue City administration, the project was not from the current congressman.

Mandaue LGU

The Mandaue local government unit will inspect the retaining walls to assess their condition.

“Actually nakadaan kami dyan, nag-random inspect bago pa man nasira. Nakita namin ang sitwasyon. Magpapatuloy siguro ang random inspection dahil mahaba ang Butuanon,’ said Sally Malig-on, Mandaue City administrator.

(We already saw the situation during a random inspection. We will continue our random inspection because the Butuanon River is long.) — Mariel Celine Serquiña/BAP, GMA Integrated News