Cuartero official seeks probe on collapsed river control

By Felipe V. Celino

ROXAS CITY, Capiz – A Sangguniang Bayan member of Cuartero is calling for an investigation into the flood control project in Barangay Angub, Cuartero, Capiz.

Councilor Eve Cedullo said she will bring to the attention of the Office of the President the condition of the Angub River Control project, which she inspected recently.

She said the structure lacked steel reinforcement to support the concrete, which caused it to crack during flooding in past years.

Cedullo expressed hope her complaint would prompt national government action, including reviews of flood control projects in Poblacion Ilaya and Poblacion Ilawod, both in Cuartero.

District Engineer Gerardo Parra of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 2nd District Engineering Office denied allegations of ghost projects in his jurisdiction.

“I assure that there were no ghost projects in the second district of Capiz,” Parra said in a media interview on Sept. 1.

He said the flood control project in Barangay Angub was constructed in 2019, before his term as district engineer.

Parra added that he will investigate who the contractor was for the project.

The project, which cost PHP 91 million, covered 500 meters in length, with about 150 meters reported damaged.

Parra said the project is covered by a five-year warranty that obliges the contractor to repair defects.