₱20-B flood control projects in Occidental Mindoro collapse; contractors tied to Discayas, Zaldy Co

Several flood control projects in Occidental Mindoro, amounting to approximately ₱20 billion, have collapsed and sustained damage during the past few weeks of continuous heavy rains across the country.

In a “24 Oras” report by JP Soriano on Monday, a river wall along the Amnay River in Barangay Claudio Salgado, Sablayan, was destroyed. Due to the severity of the damage, it formed a sinkhole-like collapse in which several concrete slabs fell into the river.

The project was an undertaking by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) that began construction in 2023. Residents noted that less than two years after its completion, it had already begun to deteriorate.

“Malaking budget, pero ayan lang nangyari, parang buhangin lang na nilaglag diyan sa tubig. Wala na,” Barangay Claudio Salgado Police Redin Dimaymay said.

([They allotted] a big budget, but that’s all that happened—it’s like sand dropped into the water. It’s gone.)

According to barangay officials, the provincial governor, and the Sumbong sa Pangulo portal, the project's subcontractor was Sunwest Construction & Development Corporation, a firm allegedly owned by former congressman and fugitive Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co.

Meanwhile, the portion of the project at the Patrick River was constructed by Great Pacific Builders and Gen. Contractor Inc., a company owned by the couple Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya and Sarah Discaya.

Dimaymay recalled the sudden surge of water from the river when the river wall collapsed in the middle of heavy downpours over the past few weeks.

“Sa laking pera, sir, niyan? Nilagay nila diyan [tapos] ganon lang mangyayari. Akala namin [safe] kami, [‘yun] pala ito pa magbibigay sa ‘min ng panganib kasi ang laki ng tubig, biglang bumagsak. ‘Yung tubig po biglang lakas,” Dimaymay said.

(With that much money, sir? They built it there [and] then that’s all that happened. We thought we were safe, but it turns out this would be the source of danger because the water volume was massive that it suddenly collapsed. The water current suddenly surged.)

“Nananawagan ho sana kami sa ating mahal na Pangulo na sana kami po ay mabigyan ng magandang ano dito, proteksyon,” he added.

(We are appealing to our dear President that we hopefully be provided with good protection here.)

Due to the flooding in the barangay, hundreds of families had to leave their homes. The massive collapse of the project amid heavy rains caused sand to submerge nearby rice fields, which serve as the primary source of livelihood for local residents.

Various parts of the flood control projects in Sablayan were also damaged, including sections along the Amnay River in Barangay Sta. Lucia and Barangay Victoria, which were started in 2020 but sustained damage in 2022.

In Soriano’s report, the damaged project was repaired again in 2023, with Sunwest Construction & Development Corporation as the contractor.

The provincial governor believes that the materials used in the flood control projects were substandard.

“Yung mga materyales, ang daling gumuho yung kanilang mga semento. Kung maayos kasi yung… specification, halimbawa yung pilote,” Occidental Mindoro Governor Eduardo Gadiano said.

(The materials—their concrete crumbles so easily. If the specifications were done properly, like the pilings, for example.)

Sablayan has at least 26 DPWH flood control projects. According to Gadiano, approximately ₱20 billion worth of the province’s flood control projects are located in Sablayan.

Meanwhile, in the municipality of Santa Cruz, a seawall constructed by the Discaya’s company in 2023 was also destroyed. It was supposed to protect coastal communities against strong waves from the West Philippine Sea.

According to residents living near the project, it had not even been two years since the seawall was completed when it began to sustain damage — and then came the recent southwest monsoon, which caused a section of it to completely collapse.

Local officials of Barangay Mulawin said that when the project began to break down, the contractors allegedly returned to repair it.

“Pagkatapos ng tatlong buhos nila na ‘yon, umalis na, hanggang ngayon ‘di na nagbalik,” Mulawin Fisherman Association Chairman Conrado Basila said.

(After they poured concrete three times, they left, and until now they haven’t returned.)

Another official said the contractor did not coordinate with the barangay before constructing the project.

“Hindi po kasi sila nakipagcoordinate sila sa barangay at sa munisipyo—kung sino po yung contractor. Basta nakita na lang po namin, may nagkakaroon na po ng mga pagkakalagay diyan ng seawall,” Barangay Councilor Jenelyn Bautista Munoz said.

(They didn’t coordinate with the barangay or the municipal government—whoever the contractor was. We just suddenly saw that they were already installing a seawall there.)

Governor Gadiano said DPWH and the contractors explained to them that the constructed projects carry a warranty.

“Sila naman ang nagsasabi na may warranty ‘yan na 5 years ganon. Pag nasira, gagawin. Gagawin ng contractor, o gagawin nila, o popondohan ulit. Eh di sayang ‘ung ninakaw na pondo para doon dapat. Instead na dapat, as per specification, ‘di ba dapat kumpleto ‘yon,” Gadiano said.

(They said there is a 5-year warranty. If it breaks, they will repair it. The contractor will repair it or fund it again. Then the stolen funds meant for it are wasted. When, instead, as per specifications, shouldn’t it be complete?)

Gadiano called on the DPWH to inspect the damaged projects and requested that they determine how to properly repair them.

According to DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon, they will have the damaged projects repaired at no cost.

“Yung mga nasira sa Occidental Mindoro, hahabulin natin lahat ng mga kontratistang gumawa niyan,” Dizon told reporters.

(For the damaged projects in Occidental Mindoro, we will go after all the contractors who built them.)

In the meantime, residents living near the damaged flood control projects remain on alert in case the destruction of the seawalls continues.

GMA News has reached out to DPWH MIMAROPA via email and messaging platforms, but has yet to receive a reply. The two contracting firms mentioned have also been contacted for their statements. — Lyjah Tiffany Bonzo/BAP, GMA News