AZURIN (DYHP RMN Cebu FB)
CEBU CITY – Some government officials and contractors in Cebu province may face charges over flawed flood control projects.
Flood control structures built with serious lapses in planning and implementation were discovered when officials of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) conducted an inspection on Sunday, Nov. 16.
Criminal and administrative charges may be filed against those behind these substandard projects, said Rodolfo Azurin Jr., ICI special adviser and lead investigator.
The national fact-finding body, created by Executive Order No. 94, inspected several flood control projects in Cebu City, Mandaue City, Talisay City, Liloan, and Compostela.
Azurin said during inspection, they found patterns of poor planning, misaligned project sequencing, and potential use of substandard materials.
The most alarming discovery is the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) deviation from the national river basin master plan, said Azurin.
“There must be a masterplan that should be followed. Definitely, someone should be held liable that there is an ongoing investigation ordered by the President. He has been reiterating no one should be spared. As of now, we are looking at the evidence so we can charge them in court,” Azurin said.
In deviating from the masterplan, the DPWH-7 allegedly pursued a heavy reliance on revetment, or slope protection, rather than first constructing vertical structures designed to manage and contain water flow.
Because the the sequence was wrong, Azurin, said the structures gave in when typhoon "Tino" struck.