Illustration by: Virgilio Biagtan
The recent collapse of the flood control project in Barangay Maguikay, Mandaue City, exposes alarming lapses in infrastructure standards and public safety protocols. This incident reveals that certain sections of the structure, a 6, 900-meter riprap wall designed to prevent flooding, were reinforced with bamboo rather than steel—a substitution that raises questions about oversight and material integrity in government projects. The use of bamboo in a multimillion-peso project, coupled with the absence of steel bars in the collapsed section, highlights the urgent need for accountability and transparency from both the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the project contractor, ZLREJ Trading and Construction Corp.
Flood control infrastructure is meant to be a first line of defense for communities vulnerable to flooding, especially in an area as flood-prone as Mandaue City. The decision to use inadequate materials for structural reinforcement puts residents at risk, a risk that city officials have rightfully called out. DPWH and the contractor’s failure to provide a timely explanation further erodes public trust and underscores the importance of stringent quality control and inspections. Without the required steel reinforcements, the project was structurally compromised from the start, and its collapse after heavy rains should prompt immediate corrective measures to prevent future hazards.
This incident also underscores a broader issue: the apparent lack of oversight in government-funded projects. As Mandaue City Mayor Glenn Bercede emphasized, public projects should be transparent in terms of both affiliation and responsibility. Community leaders and officials must now collaborate to push for a comprehensive investigation, potentially involving the Commission on Audit and the Office of the Ombudsman, to assess material quality, construction methods, and the overall design of the project. Such scrutiny is necessary to ensure that public funds are used wisely and that infrastructure meets the standards needed to keep communities safe.
Ultimately, this disaster should serve as a call to action for better regulation of public works projects. Filipinos deserve infrastructure that stands the test of time and nature—not shortcuts that endanger lives and waste public resources. Moving forward, it is crucial for government agencies and contractors to rebuild trust through transparency, rigorous standards, and a commitment to accountability.