The Municipal Council of Argao in Cebu has taken decisive action by summoning officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 2nd Engineering District and their contractors to address growing concerns about four ongoing flood control projects in the municipality.
Council Demands Answers on P380 Million Projects
In an official statement posted on his Facebook page last Tuesday, November 11, 2025, Argao Vice Mayor Orvi Ortega revealed that the council will confront the DPWH representatives and contractors during their regular session on November 25, 2025. The move comes amid fears of flooding similar to what other parts of Cebu experienced during Typhoon Tino.
Ortega emphasized that the summons aims to clarify mounting concerns about the implementation, quality, and cost of these flood control initiatives. He noted that similar flooding incidents could pose a serious threat to Argao, which features a wide river system flowing from Dalaguete through multiple upland barangays down to coastal areas including Canbanua, Talaytay, and Langtad.
Ocular Inspection Reveals Critical Issues
The Vice Mayor disclosed that he and council members recently conducted an ocular inspection of the flood control project sites and uncovered several alarming findings. Completion of the projects remains far off despite ongoing construction, raising questions about timeline adherence.
More concerning, the flood-control project between Barangay Talaytay and Canbanua appears to deviate from the river's original and natural flow path. This discovery has prompted serious doubts about the project's effectiveness in managing water flow during heavy rainfall.
The council also raised eyebrows at the contract amounts, which they described as appearing excessively high and remarkably similar across all four distinct flood-control projects.
Substantial Investments Under Scrutiny
The ongoing projects are located in Barangay Langtad, Sumaguan, Lengigon, and Mompeller within Argao, with individual contract costs ranging from P94 million to P96 million each, totaling approximately P380 million for all four projects.
The contractors involved include UY Condev Corporation, QM Builders, and Quirante Construction Corporation, with completion dates scheduled between late 2025 and early 2026.
According to Ortega, the inspection has generated more questions than answers about the effectiveness of these flood control projects, especially in light of Typhoon Tino's impact. He noted that similar flood control projects elsewhere in Cebu failed to prevent devastating flooding that claimed lives in Liloan, Compostela, Cebu City, Mandaue City, Talisay City, Balamban, and Asturias when major rivers overflowed.
The Vice Mayor is encouraging Argao residents to attend the regular session on November 25 at 2:00 PM or watch the proceedings online to stay informed about these critical infrastructure projects that could significantly impact the municipality's flood resilience.
