THE Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) is investigating a flood control project along the Davao River that was damaged just months after its completion last year, raising concerns about the quality of materials used and the potential liability of the project’s contractor.
Former Philippine National Police chief Rodolfo Azurin, special adviser and investigator of the ICI, inspected the site and confirmed that samples of the materials used in the dike’s construction have been taken for testing.
“We saw that in less than two years, the project was already damaged,” Azurin told reporters. “We still have to review the contract with the DPWH so that we can determine what sanctions we can impose on the contractors and the implementers of the project.”
The ICI’s investigation aims to determine whether the contractor followed the specifications approved by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
“We can’t say yet that it’s substandard,” Azurin cautioned. “We still have to subject it to a series of tests [that’s why we took samples of the] materials for quality control so that DPWH can determine whether they were using the right materials.”
Residents Express Disappointment
Residents living near the Davao River expressed their disappointment with the project’s rapid deterioration. They had initially welcomed the dike’s completion, hoping it would protect them from flooding.
“We were happy when the dike was finished last year because we were always fearful every time it rained because of the rise in the river water,” said one resident.
However, their hopes were dashed when the dike was damaged just two months after completion, allowing river water to flow into the embankment where their houses stand.
The residents also pointed to a makeshift bridge they constructed over the embankment, where a 7-year-old and a pregnant woman were injured after falling.
ICI Inspects Other Projects
Azurin, along with Public Works Undersecretary Arthur Bisnar and Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, inspected three of the 51 questionable projects earlier flagged by the DPWH in the Davao region.
The investigation into the Davao River flood control project and other flagged projects underscores the government’s commitment to ensuring the quality and durability of infrastructure projects. If the investigation reveals that the contractor used substandard materials or failed to follow specifications, they could face significant sanctions, including financial penalties and blacklisting from future government projects.
The outcome of the ICI’s investigation will be closely watched by residents and stakeholders, as it could have significant implications for the contractor and the future of flood control projects in the region.
