Mayor Gica: Flood Wall Failure Was an Act of Nature
In an official statement released on Saturday, November 29, 2025, Dumanjug Mayor Efren Guntrano "Gungun" Gica firmly attributed the collapse of a flood control wall in Barangay Kang-actol to the sheer power of nature, specifically Tropical Depression Verbena, and not to any construction flaws. The mayor made this clarification via a video posted on his Facebook page, aiming to address public concerns directly.
Inspection Reveals Above-Standard Construction
Mayor Gica, alongside municipal engineers and a team from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), conducted a thorough on-site inspection following the incident on November 25. The investigation yielded surprising results regarding the structure's integrity. Gica explained that the concrete thickness was measured at nearly 12 inches (30 cm), which is significantly thicker than the original design plan that called for only 8 inches (20 cm).
Furthermore, he emphasized that the steel reinforcements (kabilya) used in the slope protection were installed appropriately and in sufficient quantity. "The project is not substandard. The placement of the steel reinforcements on the slope and the thickness of the concrete all followed the design. In fact, the project was above-standard," Mayor Gica stated. He added that the road deck was designed like a standard roadway with thick concrete, which is why it lacked additional steel bars, a practice he described as normal in engineering standards.
Contractor to Undertake Repairs Despite Lapsed Warranty
Despite the project having already exceeded its warranty period, a significant development emerged from the situation. Mayor Gica revealed that the contractor has committed to repairing the damaged structure at no cost to the local government. This commitment ensures that public funds will not be used for the restoration work.
In a related clarification, the mayor also confirmed that the controversial QM Builders was not the contractor for this specific flood control project, putting to rest any potential misinformation linking the firm to the incident. The mayor had initially called for an investigation into the collapse as the storm hit on November 25.
