In recent events, news broke out that there a flood mitigation project in Candating, Arayat, Pampanga that collapsed last August 18.
Almer Miranda, chief of the Department of Public Works and Highways’ Pampanga 1st District Engineering Office, stated that the village council ordered the evacuation since the riverbank was still sagging.
The said project was worth Php mo91 million carried out under the 23CG0041 Flood Management Program—Construction/Rehabilitation of Flood Mitigation Facilities within Major River Basins and Principal Rivers, according to project engineer Enil Jan Quito.
Quito confirmed the collapse and stated that the embankment saturation caused the installed sheet piles to bend.
He stated that the stress created by the weight of the sheet pile and concrete capping had forced the deadman (or anchor) to shift from its placed location or site.
Internet users took to social media to share their thoughts about the collapse of the flood mitigation project.
One user wrote, “What a waste of people’s money. You wanted to laugh on this one but you remember it was people’s money that have been wasted while those people involved on this already bagged their money.”
Another user wrote, “Aba dapat yung agency, engineers at contractor na gumawa nito pagmultahin ng 100M each. Kung walang maiulta sila na gawing pangpatibay dyan [Oh, the agency, engineers and contractors who did this should be fined 100M each. If they don’t have anything to do, use it as reinforcement].”
“Kung ang tao sa Pilipinas may tig iisang punong naitanim sa mga bahay2. I don’t think kelangan pa ng budget for flood control. Puno po kase ang solution ng baha. Kaya may baha kase halos wala na pong puno. Eto lang sana solution jan. Tas yang 91M na budget ilaan sa ibang bagay. [If the people in the Philippines have at least 1 tree planted in their houses. I don’t think we need a budget for flood control. Trees are a solution to floods. That’s why there’s flood because there are almost no trees left. Here’s the solution to that. Then that 91M budget will be allocated to different things],”a third user suggested.
In order to protect the safety of the surrounding inhabitants and temporarily lessen the impact of the incident, the contractor’s team has begun sandbagging operations, according to a statement released by the DPWH last August 19.
They also stated that they will keep a close eye on the circumstances and have emergency resources ready.
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