Following the collapse of a flood control structure during a severe storm, the municipal mayor of Dumanjug, Cebu, has publicly addressed concerns, attributing the failure to an act of God rather than construction flaws.
Official Inspection Reveals Cause of Collapse
On Saturday, November 29, 2025, Mayor Efren Guntrano "Gungun" Gica took to social media to share the findings of a recent site inspection. The official, alongside municipal engineers and a team from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), examined the collapsed slope protection at Putaw River in Barangay Kang-actol.
This inspection was prompted by the structure's failure last Tuesday, November 25, during the intense rainfall brought by tropical depression Verbena. Mayor Gica firmly stated that the project was not substandard and had been built according to, and even exceeding, its design specifications.
Project Exceeded Design Specifications
Contrary to suspicions of inferior work, the investigation uncovered that the construction was robust. Mayor Gica explained in a video that the concrete thickness was nearly 30 centimeters, significantly more than the approximately 20 centimeters required in the design plan.
He further confirmed that there was sufficient steel reinforcement embedded in the slope protection. "The project is not substandard. The placement of the steel bars on the slope and the thickness of the cement, everything followed the design," Gica asserted. "The project is even above-standard."
Overwhelming Hydrostatic Pressure to Blame
The root cause of the collapse was identified as extreme hydrostatic pressure. The investigative team found that runoff from more than three hectares of land pooled behind the wall during the storm.
The structure's weep holes, which were fitted with three-inch PVC outlets designed to release water, were completely overwhelmed by the unprecedented volume. The immense force of the water softened the soil behind the wall, leading to a slope failure that ultimately caused the collapse.
"It was unanticipated that the water would reach this level. The pressure from behind caused the collapse," Mayor Gica concluded, classifying the event as a force majeure.
In a positive development for the community, the mayor clarified that the contractor, whose warranty had already lapsed, has voluntarily committed to repairing the collapsed portion free of charge. Reportedly, the contractor has assured local officials that the reconstruction can be finished within a week.
