A portion of a P144-million river dike in Bindoy town, Province of Negros Oriental has collapsed.

At first glance from Talaptap Bridge in Barangay Cabugan, the river dike looks wide, long, and functioning. But upclose, a portion of the dike has collapsed and the quality of works is deemed suspicious.

GMA Regional TV Balitang Bisdak chanced upon a number of construction workers conducting repair on the collapsed portion. But when asked about the project, the workers do not know anything anymore about the project.

Even residents declined an interview, but cited that the dike was destroyed due to previous weather disturbances. However, a resident offered to guide the news team to the collapsed portion of the dike where steel rods were found to be measuring 10 millimeters only and that thin concrete was used.

“Ito ang una. (So ang tubig umapaw?) Oo. Umapaw. Umapaw ito lahat hanggang doon. Kaya nasira ang kalsadang ito,” Nadito Amarante, a resident, said. 

The news team tried to get a statement from the barangay, but had to come back several times as the barangay chairman of Cabugan was not around.

According to Bindoy Mayor Eniego Jabagat, no one coordinated with them about the project so they have no idea on who the contractor is and the location of the office. 

The Local Government Unit of Bindoy is surprised to have found out through sumbongsapangulo.ph that the flood control project has received a second budget worth P72 million.

The first budget was in 2022 after the onslaught of Super Typhoon ‘Odette’ (Rai), and in 2023.

The news team tried to get a comment from the Department of Public Works andHighways (DPWH) Negros Oriental 1^st District Engineering Office (DEO) but it refused an interview.

The agency said that a directive of DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon has prevented them from granting interviews in relation to the flood control project controversy.

The mayor expressed worry over work stoppage to the said project seen to affect most especially the residents of Barangay Cabugan, where the largest waterway, the Cabugan River, in Bindoy is situated.

Jabagat pointed out that if the flood mitigation structure is not fully repaired, over 4,000 families are in danger of possible massive flooding once Cabugan River overflows.

(via Vic Camion/GMA Regional TV Balitang Bisdak)