Road Rip-rap project collapses after downpour

By Felipe V. Celino

ROXAS CITY, Capiz – The under-construction road rip-rap project on the national road of Brgy. Parian in Sigma, Capiz, collapsed following a heavy downpour on Sunday afternoon, July 8.

According to Kagawad Ronel “Nonoy” Besa of Brgy. Parian, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 2nd Engineering District project had been questioned by some residents due to its untimely implementation during the rainy season.

Some residents also alleged that the construction by the contractor CLY (Cherry L. Yap) company was substandard, claiming that some of the cement intended for the project was being sold by the construction workers.

Engr. Renan Juanillo of the DPWH-2nd Engineering District said the 800-meter rip-rap project was nearly complete when the heavy downpour caused about 26 meters of the rip-rap to collapse.

Juanillo vowed to investigate the alleged selling of cement by the workers. He clarified that no steel bars were found because the project design was for grouted rip-rap, using only sand, rock, boulders, and cement.

The project cost P30 million and began two months ago, stretching from the Margarita Soriano Elementary School to the boundary of Ivisan town.

Daily Guardian is trying to get comments from the contractor but they were not available as of press time.