A worn-out manhole cover in Lapu-Lapu City was repaired by personnel of the City Engineer’s Office after a story of two students who sustained injuries was aired on GMA Regional TV Balitang Bisdak.
Two students of Maribago National High School were hurt badly after they slipped through a worn-out drainage cover, on separate incidents, in Sitio Datag, Barangay Maribago.
The story of the injured students was aired on January 22, 2025.
Their parents complained against a worn-out manhole cover that injured their daughters.
The students missed their in-person classes while recuperating from the mishap, the parents said.
Immediately after the broadcast of the report, personnel of the City Engineer’s Office were sent to the area to check and fix the drainage cover.
Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Cebu 6th Engineering District told GMA Regional TV Balitang Bisdak through Engr. Daffodil Jugan, the information officer, that after the project was turned over to the end-user which is Barangay Maribago in 2023, the barangay should have been responsible for maintenance of the said project.
The project that spanned 2,825 meters cost over P41.52 million, which includes the side of Pajac-Maribago Road going to the General Aviation Road.
The project was completed on December 20, 2019 and was turned over to the barangay in January 2023.
According to Maribago Barangay Chairman Rosalino Abing, since the turnover of the project, they were able to do band-aid fixes to manhole covers on the side of Datag, Maribago.
Abing said that because construction specifications, such as the level of the drainage, are not similar, there are areas where water easily collects.
In the event of a downpour, runoff water would gather past the manhole cover that exposes it to rapid breakdown.
Abing said that since the turnover in 2023, they have a count of quick fixes on at least 56 covers.
One of the parents, Cristine Apa, is grateful that the Local Government Unit has taken action on the complaint, but would appreciate it more if all manhole covers would be checked and repaired.
One of the recent mishaps happened right in front of the Maribago National High School.
Engr. Perla Amar, city engineer, vowed to have all rundown drainage covers repaired.
Engr. Amar said that of the 142 covers in Datag, Maribago, quick fixes were done on at least 58 since 2023.
The defective fabricated flat bars were replaced with angle bars.
Meanwhile, Engr. Amar called on the City Traffic Management System (CTMS) office to put a limit on the load of huge vehicles that traverse the area to avoid denting the manhole covers.
The City Engineer’s Office also called on barangay officials to ensure that early warning devices are placed in the vicinity of dilapidated drainage covers awaiting repair works.