A 43-meter-long portion of over P18.5-million slope protection project in Guimbal town, Province of Iloilo collapsed on the second week of September 2025.
The area is located in Barangay Nahapay, Guimbal.
A resident is about to lose his leaning house due to soil erosion after the collapse.
Rodolfo Doctor, Jr. said that despite the situation he continues to sleep in the house as he has nowhere else to go.
“Tumagilid sya. Malaki ang pagguho. Sabi ko sa anak ko, lumayo ka na. Si nanay pupunta pa sana, sabi ko lumayo na,” Doctor said.
Fidel Garpa, barangay chairman of Nahapay, said that he has already reported the concern to the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Guimbal.
“Kahapon nandito sila upang tingnan kasi nagrereklamo ang mga residente dito na baka madagdagan pa ang pagguho kung magpatuloy ang mataas na pagbaha at magpatuloy ang pag-ulan,” Garpa said.
It was learned that the project commenced on June 10, 2015, completed on May 19, 2016, and was turned over to the LGU in 2017. But in 2024 large cracks started to appear.
“Na-repair na namin yan kasi tuwing bumabaha, nire-repair talaga namin. Ngunit pera ng LGU ang ginagamit,” said Engr. Reymund Famatid, officer in charge of the Municipal Engineers Office-Guimbal.
According to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Iloilo 1st District Engineering Office (DEO), the project is composed of two sections worth over P18.5 million.
DPWH 1st DEO pointed out that rehabilitation works would need funds between P8 million and P10 million.
“Pag-inspection natin kahapon, mataas ang tubig doon. Maliban sa main river, may nagco-contribute pang creek which is dito nagtatagpo ang tubig, dito sa junction,” Engr. Carlo John Leysa, chief of the Construction Section of DPWH Iloilo 1st DEO, said.
Iloilo 1st District Representative Janette Garin vowed to check on whether the project was constructed under Project Noah.
“Ngayon kasi ang flood control projects, kailangan nasa Project Noah. Ibig sabihin, very high risk of flooding. Kung nasa Project Noah ka… isinasailalim na nila sa ngayon sa mapping then I will make representation para madagdagan at malagyan ng pondo dahil ongoing ang budget deliberation,” Garin said.
Meanwhile, the contractor clarified that they do not have responsibility anymore over the project because the five-year warranty period has long lapsed.
“Ginawa rin namin nang maayos at sinunod namin ang standard specification ng DPWH at 10 years ago pa yan at marami nang dinaanang bagyo at baha,” Ron Primaylon, construction manager of Roprim Construction, emphasized.
DPWH Iloilo 1st DEO and the Municipal Engineer’s Office of Guimbal will carry out preventive works to pad further collapse of portions of the dike.
