Butuanon riprap is collapsing

A SECTION of the bluff along the Butuanon River in Barangay Maguikay, Mandaue City collapsed on Tuesday, October 29, 2024, raising public safety concerns and prompting the urgent intervention of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

The damaged area of ​​about 15 square meters is part of the ongoing 6,900 linear meter flood control project being executed by the DPWH and funded by the office of District Representative Lon Emmari “Lollipop” Uano-Dizon.

With a budget of P127 million, the project aims to mitigate flooding in the area and is scheduled to be completed by the end of November, District Engineer Humer Castillo of the DPWH Cebu Sixth Engineering Office said in a phone interview with SunStar Cebu on Wednesday, October. 30.

Castillo said cracks had been seen in the beam in the last few months before the collapse; however, repair work was delayed due to persistent rains that made heavy equipment unsafe to operate.

“We have already discovered the cracks and planned to carry out repairs when the weather conditions improve. Unfortunately, the damage happened before we could act,” Castillo said in Cebuano.

“Furthermore, the work was not up to our standards, which contributed to the failure,” Castillo added.

The official urged the public to be patient, saying they would begin their work on Thursday, October 31.

He named ZLREJ Trading and Construction Corp. as the project contractor.

In a statement on Wednesday, Dizon said she wants the DPWH to investigate.

She said her office has approached the DPWH for a full report on the collapse, as well as a schedule of repairs and measures to prevent future incidents.

Despite the setback, Dizon highlighted the progress of her flood control initiatives.

“Several parts of the communities and barangays along the Butuanon River are now safer thanks to these flood control efforts. However, our mission is not yet complete because of the long length of the river,” she said in Cebuano.

The flood control project, started about three years ago, is part of a multi-year initiative to address the chronic flooding problems in Mandaue City. / CAV