DPWH Points to Floodwaters, Not Faulty Design, in Butuanon River Flood Control Collapse

Mandaue City, Cebu — A 15-meter section of the Butuanon River flood control project in Barangay Casuntingan collapsed amid last week’s torrential rains, according to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). During a press briefing on August 20, 2025, DPWH Cebu 6th District officials attributed the failure to redirected floodwaters, not substandard construction materials.

Assistant District Engineer Eda de Guzman revealed that floodwaters had been unintentionally diverted behind the riprap via a temporary access road, one of the project’s operational features. This rerouted flow compromised the integrity of the structure, ultimately causing a collapse.

Planning and Design Engineer Romar Jude Yan emphasized that although the riprap appeared slender above the surface, it was reinforced with stone masonry, lean concrete, and steel sheet piles driven nine meters below ground. It also included a one-meter freeboard above design flood levels for added safety.

In a follow-up statement, DPWH and its contractor, On Point Construction, firmly rejected claims of shoddy materials. The collapse was blamed on extreme rainfall that split the river’s current into multiple channels, increasing pressure on the nearly completed structure.

Contractor Martin Tan, who built the 265-meter stretch in 2024 under a roughly ₱90 million budget, offered a temporary remedy: keeping the collapsed section open until adjacent areas are completed to allow floodwaters to pass safely without pressing against the riprap.

The collapse caused damage estimated at ₱453,450.20—with no burden on government funds. The contractor, still responsible until official turnover, has started repair work, including debris removal, structural reinforcement, and protective installations.

Sixth District Representative Emmarie “Lolypop” Ouano-Dizon pushed DPWH engineers to explain the failure’s root causes and to institute corrective steps immediately.

Mandaue City Mayor Thadeo “Jonkie” Ouano echoed her concerns, calling for a comprehensive inspection by local government engineers, DPWH officials, and stakeholders. He requested full project documentation, including costs and plans along the Butuanon River since 2018, to streamline local and national flood mitigation efforts.

DPWH Regional Director Danilo Villa Jr. acknowledged that, while most structures remain sound, the increasing frequency of extreme weather events tests the limits of traditional designs. In response, the agency is transitioning from conventional stone masonry to more resilient, fully concreted floodwalls in upcoming projects.

Officials urged local residents to stay alert throughout the rainy season, conducting regular monitoring of flood control structures and avoiding unfinished sections that may pose hazards.