Flood control project collapses before completion

SAN Simon, Pampanga  , Philippines  —  Around 95 meters of a flood control project along Pampanga River in this town collapsed two days before its completion on June 21.

The contractors of the project have dispatched their workers and equipment  to repair the collapsed portion of the river wall, district engineer Lita Manalo said yesterday. 

The project, which is worth P140 million, started on Nov. 24.

Manalo said initial findings indicated that the concrete base of the collapsed wall, which was not yet fully dry at the time, loosened amid heavy rains.

She said they are also checking if a broken pipeline of a water provider caused the damage.

Manalo gave assurance that the contractors would conduct repairs without additional cost to the government. 

The project was a joint undertaking of Ferdstar Builders and DL Cervantes Construction.

Diosdado Cervantes of DL Construction said Ferdstar  built the dike. 

“There should be no worry about the project because the builders are under contract with the government to repair it,” Cervantes said.

Repair works on the damaged portion of the river wall may take at least a month.