A revetment wall of a P70-million flood control project of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in upland Cebu City collapsed. 

The collapse of the revetment wall of a flood mitigation structure in Barangay Budlaan has posed hazard to about 400 families in the area. 

Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival inspected the project implemented by DPWH and saw crumbled portions of the revetment wall.

It was learned that portions of the revetment wall broke apart due to strong current during intense rains. 

Concrete was found to be placed thinly on piled rocks, sans steel bars. 

Archival, an engineer by profession, expressed his frustration over the project during the assessment. 

The destroyed structure has heightened worry among residents in the vicinity of the river, citing that since the obviously substandard revetment wall could not hold the strength of strong currents, it cannot also protect the residents from floods. 

The shanty, for example, of 80-year-old Josefina Ramos situated near the riverbank was swept away by floods in August 2025. 

Ramos said she is dismayed that despite huge funding for flood mitigation, the project has been the first to be gobbled up by raging floodwaters. 

Nerissa Antolihao, Barangay Budlaan chairwoman, confirmed that the lives of about 400 residents in three “sitios” (sub-villages) are at risk. 

Further, it was also learned that the project has received funding in five years, worth approximately P70 million, but shows of how poorly it has been executed beginning in 2024. 

As there was alleged nonchalance on the part of DPWH and the contractor to the current condition of the project, Antolihao said that the barangay took charge of minor repairs. 

However, she said that with growing clamor for DPWH and the contractor to take accountability, she is set to raise the concern to the DPWH for their “concrete action.” 

Aside from the revetment wall, residents also complained about posts of a bridge that obstruct the flow of materials adrift during flooding incidents. 

There is no update yet from the DPWH Cebu City Engineering Office on the concern, as of this writing, but earlier an official said they will have to check on the project first.