DPWH begins replacing brittle dike in Calumpit, Bulacan

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on Tuesday began demolishing a dike in Barangay Calizon, Calumpit, Bulacan, after the structure was found to be brittle, to pave the way for a stronger and higher river control project.

In a social media post, the DPWH said Secretary Vince Dizon and Calumpit Mayor Lem Faustino inspected the site as 15-meter sheet piles were driven into the flood control structure along the Bagbag River.

The river control project is scheduled for completion in March 2027 and is expected to protect around 3,000 residents from flooding.

In engineering terms, a dike or flood control structure may be considered “brittle” when it cracks or fails easily under pressure due to factors such as poor-quality materials, improper concrete curing, aging and deterioration, insufficient reinforcement, unstable soil or foundation movement, hydraulic erosion, design flaws, or construction defects.

In public works discussions, calling a dike “brittle” often implies that engineers found the structure structurally weak, cracked, deteriorated, or unsafe for long-term flood protection.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier said he was open to discussing the repair of faulty flood control projects with contractors, but stressed that the contractors themselves should shoulder the costs.

The President also said there would be no additional budget for flood control projects in 2026, noting that funds allocated for 2025 projects remain available.

The proposed allocation for flood control projects under the 2026 National Expenditure Program initially stood at P274.926 billion.

In 2025, Marcos said only 15 firms had cornered 20% of flood control contracts nationwide.

Among the companies identified were those owned by contractors Curlee and Sarah Discaya, who are facing malversation and corruption charges along with Maria Roma Angeline Rimando of St. Timothy Construction and officials of the DPWH-Davao Occidental over an alleged P96.5-million ghost flood control project in the province.—MCG, GMA News