Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Gov. Dolor confronts DPWH director over collapsed flood control projects in Oriental Mindoro. Dennis Datu, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Dennis Datu

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1755643336965cropped-viber_image_2025-08-20_06-23-37.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Gov. Dolor confronts DPWH director over collapsed flood control projects in Oriental Mindoro. Dennis Datu, ABS-CBN News</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA <strong>(UPDATE) </strong>— Oriental Mindoro Governor Humerlito Dolor has confronted DPWH-Mimaropa regional director Gerald Pacanan in front of the collapsed road dike along the Bongabong River, questioning why it had no steel reinforcements.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/8/19/oriental-mindoro-governor-names-contractors-behind-9-collapsed-flood-control-projects-0042">Oriental Mindoro governor names contractors behind 9 collapsed flood control projects</a></div><p>“May gumagawa ba ng slope protection nang walang bakal, nagdugtong ka kawang na agad, bakit? Ikaw kahit hindi ka taga-DPWH, kahit ordinary kang tao, common sense dictates, yan oh walang bakal, obvious ba?&quot; Dolor told Pacanan while pointing at the section of the slope protection without steel.</p><p>“RD, sermonan mo iyong engineer na nagbabantay, I demand. Kalokohan na ito,” the governor added.</p><p>About 135 meters of the 380-meter-long road dike in Bongabong river collapsed when the southwest monsoon struck on July 23.</p><p>According to the “Sumbong sa Pangulo” website, the project was worth P217 million with a reported completion date of December 15, 2023.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/8/17/dpwh-engineer-in-collapsed-flood-control-project-in-oriental-mindoro-fired-2312">DPWH engineer in collapsed flood control project in Oriental Mindoro fired</a></div><p>Similar to the collapsed road dike in Naujan, Dolor said the structure in Bongabong was also filled with sand, had thin layers of cement, and undersized steel bars were used.</p><p>For Dolor, the project was not only substandard but also overpriced.</p><p>“Can you honestly tell me na yung P600,000 per linear meter ay justified sa hitsurang ito ng materials used? Yes or no lang, RD,&quot; Dolor pressed Pacanan.</p><p>“Sa disenyo justifiable pero sa workmanship sa tingin ko may pagkukulang,” the DPWH regional director replied.</p><p>Dolor then questioned how such allegedly substandard projects managed to pass inspections.</p><p>Dolor has requested the Commission on Audit (COA) and the Office of the President to conduct a special technical audit of all flood control projects in Oriental Mindoro.</p><p>So far, nine road dikes built between 2023 and 2025 under flood control projects have collapsed in Mag-Asawang Tubig River, Bucayao River, and Bongabong River in Oriental Mindoro.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>SOLON SPEAKS UP</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>One of the two congressmen in Oriental Mindoro has denied alleged corruption in the collapsed flood control projects.</p><p>In a phone interview with ABS-CBN News, Oriental Mindoro 2nd District Rep. Alfonso Umali denied profiting from the flood control projects built in his district.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/19/dpwh-chief-admits-existence-of-ghost-flood-control-projects-vows-probe-1233">DPWH chief admits existence of &#x27;ghost&#x27; flood control projects, vows probe</a></div><p>“Walang kurapsyon doon, hindi kami nakikinabang doon, for the first time ngayon lang kami nabigyan ng ganoong pondo,” Umali said.</p><p>Although he did not directly name them, Dolor earlier stated in interviews that funding for the flood control projects passed through Congress.</p><p>Umali countered that they did not know who were the contractors since the projects were handled by the DPWH regional office.</p><p>The lawmaker also denied claims that the flood control projects were substandard.</p><p>Umali further accused Dolor of diverting the issue to cover up the controversy over dredging in the province. The governor has been pushing for river dredging in Oriental Mindoro as a solution to flooding.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/6/21/oriental-mindoro-gov-defends-dredging-in-balete-river-1606">Oriental Mindoro Gov. defends dredging in Balete River</a></div><p>However, many residents, environmental groups, the church, and local politicians opposed the move, claiming it is a form of sand mining.</p><p>Umali was among the staunch opponents of dredging.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-scxxJ0wo-c?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><br/></div>

<p>Oriental Mindoro Governor Humerlito Dolor confronted DPWH-Mimaropa regional director Gerald Pacanan in front of the collapsed road dike along the Bongabong River, questioning why it had no steel reinforcements.</p>

Oriental Mindoro Governor Humerlito Dolor confronted DPWH-Mimaropa regional director Gerald Pacanan in front of the collapsed road dike along the Bongabong River, questioning why it had no steel reinforcements.

Oriental Mindoro gov shows collapsed dike to DPWH director: 'Kalokohan na ito'

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Oriental Mindoro gov shows collapsed dike to DPWH director: 'Kalokohan na ito'

Dennis Datu,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 20, 2025 06:48 AM PHT

|

Updated August 20, 2025 08:23 PM PHT

Read More:

Oriental Mindoro

flood control

flood control project

dike

DPWH

corruption

overpriced

infra

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