Flood destroys Camaligan river revetment structure

CAMALIGAN, Camarines Sur---A portion of the river revetment structure constructed by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Barangay Tarosanan several years ago finally collapsed on Sunday, Nov. 22, a barangay official said.

The old river protection structure collapsed when its foundation caved in. No one was injured, the report said.

Pops Acabado, Tarosanan village chief, said that the structure was built about ten years ago during her term as barangay councilor, was a project of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

She said the structure was constructed through the efforts the late ex-barangay chairman Serafin San Juan. Acabado elaborated that the structure has no sufficient sheet pile, causing it to crack down and create holes in the long run especially when strong fluvial waves collides.

She admitted that unlike the river walls built under Robredo’s infra project as a congresswoman (in 2013-2016), this one has no sufficient sheet piles” she said.

THE damaged revetment in Tarosanan, Camaligan connecting the flood control project of VP Leni Robredo during her term as CamSur’s third district congressman. PHOTO BY PAULO DS. PAPA

She said, she and the sangguniang bayan had already reported the issue to the DPWH.

When asked about the price of public revenue which was used for the construction of the river wall she replied that the record is already diminished.

Before tropical storms Rolly and Ulysess hit the province the river wall in the said barangay was the main concern of the residents nearby due to cracks and hollow holes.

Few of the residents, narrated that sometimes they saw snakes lurking inside the hollow structure. They added as years past, the structure slowly sinks down to the river.

Despite completion of river walls, the barangay, a week ago, was not spared from the flood brought by typhoon Ulysess.

The barangay chairman said the flood was deep as the flood water level reached their hips.

The damaged river revetment in barangay Tarosanan here was not constructed under the flood control infrastructure project of vice president Leni Robredo during her term as the 3rd district representative of the province, a barangay official said on Monday, Nov. 23.