A HOUSE hangs on its side after a dike collapsed in Barangay Nahapay, Guimbal town, Iloilo province. (Photo courtesy of Allaine Kate Leda)
ILOILO CITY – A dike built by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-Iloilo 1st District Engineering Office in Guimbal town recently collapsed to heavy rain from tropical cyclone ‘’Opong.’’
The P18.5-million project in Barangay Nahapay was built in 2016 to protect low-lying areas near the Jarao River. Its collapse resulted in soil erosion that endangered houses on the riverbank. Baranngay officials urged immediate repair to avoid further damage.
A P77-million access road and seawall in Tigbauan town remains unfinished. The project was supposed to be finished last January. It was blamed by residents for the recent flooding as water can no longer be drained out to sea.
Tubungan town allegedly lacks proper landslide mitigating infrastructures. Last Sept. 11, a landslide washed away motorcycles and other property in Barangay Lanag Norte.
Complaints have also been reported in the town of Oton where some places are now flood-prone.
Records from the DPWH website showed that the first district of Iloilo had around P2.1 billion in projects for fiscal year 2025, one of the highest in the province.