P232-M flood control project collapses amid Habagat rains in Occidental Mindoro

A P232 million flood control project gave way in Occidental Mindoro amid continuous rains caused by the Southwest Monsoon.

In JP Soriano's exclusive report in 24 Oras on Tuesday, a flood control project meant to protect residents of Abra de Ilog put them in harm’s way after it collapsed.

Resident Hershey John Anilao Bohol’s house was flooded during the monsoon rains, putting him and his livestock of pigs and goats at risk.

Floods are not new to Bohol and other residents, but he said they had hoped that the new multi-million flood control project would spare them from the worst. However, this was not the case.

“Ay napakahirap po! Sobrang hirap hindi namin alam kung saan kami pupunta tapos yung pong mga gamit na importante hindi namin alam kung saan ilalagay, lalo na yung mga bata hindi namin alam kung saan kami,” Bohol said.

(It is really hard! It is very difficult because we do not know where to go and we do not know where to put our valuables, especially the kids, we do not know where we will go.)

The reason for the flood is believed to be a wrecked river wall from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). According to BetterGov.ph’s transparency portal, the project was worth P232 million.

GMA News was able to procure documents from the Abra de Ilog local government unit (LGU) indicating that the contractor was a certain “Anore Construction”.

The Abra de Ilog LGU found that the project had no project billboard, and no payment of business or mayor’s permit. There were also multiple cracks on the pavement, and the steel piles were shortened to three to six meters.

“Medyo maliit naman po yung ginamit na bakal, at medyo may kanipisan din po yung buhos ng semento, kaya siguro naglakas ng tubig at na-wash out kaagad,” Barangay San Vicente kagawad Joel Luzon said.

(The metal used was a bit small, and the cement was thin, so that’s probably why when the water was strong, it was washed out immediately.)

The lack of a proper rover protection wall is seen as a possible reason why some houses along the river gave way.

Abra de Ilog Vice Mayor Patria Unika "Aika" Polinag Almajo said that the land where the houses stood was thinning out. She said that the project seemed to have come without the LGU knowing.

“Ang pinaghahandaan po ngayon ng mga local officials ng Bayan Abra de Ilog ay ang dumating na bagyo at ang inaasahang pag intensify ng Habagat,” Almajo said.

(What the town officials of Abra de Ilso are preparing for is the coming storm and the intensified Southwest Monsoon.)

Residents were making improvised flood control projects of their own, with some stacking sandbags to shield themselves from the waters.

“Nanawagan po na tulungan sila kahit sako, gabion wires para po ma protektahan nila yung lugar nila,” Almajo said.

(We are asking help for our residents, even sacks, gabion wires even just to protect their property.)

Abra de Ilog has declared a state of calamity amid the continuous rains, which have also triggered landslides in surrounding areas, including on the mountainside along Apias Road.

Meanwhile, a secluded sitio in Barangay Alacaak, Sta. Cruz, more than 2,000 members of the Mangyan were trapped after a part of the intake dam collapsed. This part served as the access road leading to their community.

Chunks of concrete from the broken dam could be seen in the nearby river. The identity of the contractor of this flood control project is unclear.

“Kung ‘di natin maaksyunan ay isang delubyo kundi hindi lamang sa isang barangay kundi sa limang barangay dahil ito ay libo-ibong ektaryang lupain ang masisisra at mawawasak,” Barangay Alacaak Captain Melbert Torriana said.

(If we do not act on this then there will be a calamity not just in one barangay but in five barangays because this is thousands of hectares of land that will be ruined.) —Jean Mangaluz/RF, GMA News