Camille Naredo

Flood control project in Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro. Dennis Datu, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

HABAGAT

Dennis Datu

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1787960910229viber_image_2026-08-29_07-24-45-240.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Flood control project in Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro. Dennis Datu, ABS-CBN News"/>Flood control project in Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro. Dennis Datu, ABS-CBN News</div>SABLAYAN, Occidental Mindoro — Residents and barangay officials in Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro, are once again appealing to Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon to personally look into and take immediate action on the collapse of several flood control projects in the town.Their message comes as the threat of heavy rains from the southwest monsoon, locally known as Habagat, looms once more.In Barangay Tagumpay, fear returns every time dark clouds gather and heavy rain begins to fall.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/8/28/occidental-mindoro-braces-for-another-onslaught-of-habagat-0028">READ: Occidental Mindoro braces for another onslaught of habagat</a></div>Barangay Chairman Victor Fabros said they are anxiously watching the Patrick River, fearing that prolonged rains from the Habagat could cause its waters to swell and overflow.But this time, they no longer have the protection they once relied on.Just last week, a massive section of the flood control project along the river collapsed. Around 500 meters of the structure gave way, stripping the community of a critical barrier against raging floodwaters.The destruction did not stop at the riverbank.For farmers, the collapse has brought devastation to the land that once sustained their families. Rice fields have been buried under massive deposits of sand and gravel, leaving vast portions of farmland impossible to cultivate.Fabros said around 60 hectares of agricultural land have already been affected.&quot;Ang nakakalungkot sa pinsalang dulot ng pagbagsak ng flood control na ito, halos hindi na namin matamnan &#x27;yung mga palayan namin na ang naging kapalit po ay buhangin na,&quot; Fabros said. &quot;Nasa humigit-kumulang sa 60 hektarya na po &#x27;yung naging grabahan.&quot;The flood control project was supposed to protect Barangay Tagumpay. Instead, residents now say they are the ones paying the price for its failure.According to Fabros, the project was constructed in 2024 by contractor Sunwest. Parts of it had already collapsed last year and were repaired. But after the latest and far more extensive collapse, residents say patchwork repairs may no longer be enough.&quot;Kami ho &#x27;yung nagiging kawawa. Sila &#x27;yung nagkakamal ng malaking halaga. Pinoprotektahan din nila, diumano, ang aming barangay para sa flood control na &#x27;to, pero kami naman po ang napinsala dahil hindi ho matibay ang paggawa ng flood control,&quot; Fabros added.The same nightmare has unfolded in nearby Barangay Paetan, where another lengthy section of a flood control project—also reportedly built by Sunwest—has collapsed.ABS-CBN News is still seeking the contractor&#x27;s response regarding the allegations and the destruction of the projects.Several flood control structures have also collapsed in nearby Barangay Victoria. Like Barangay Tagumpay, residents in Victoria fear that large areas of farmland could be washed away if the damaged dikes are not immediately repaired.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/8/27/habagat-damage-hits-p2-billion-in-occidental-mindoro-state-of-calamity-eyed-0920">READ: Habagat damage hits P2 billion in Occidental Mindoro; state of calamity eyed</a></div>Barangay Victoria Chairman Marvin Tadeo expressed frustration over the collapse of two dikes that were reportedly completed only in 2022 at a cost of around ₱180 million.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1787960930730viber_image_2026-08-29_07-24-50-695.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Flood control project in Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro. Dennis Datu, ABS-CBN News"/>Flood control project in Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro. Dennis Datu, ABS-CBN News</div>&quot;Napakalaki &#x27;yung pondo pero, ah, ganito lang ang nangyari na sa isang iglap ay masisira lang at masasayang &#x27;yung pondo na napakalaki,&quot; Tadeo said.Tadeo said he repeatedly contacted the area engineer of the subcontractor involved in the construction of the dikes but received no clear answer on who would be responsible for repairing the damaged structures. He said the projects should still be covered by a five-year warranty period.Other portions of the dikes have also developed cracks, raising fears that they could collapse at any time.Tadeo appealed directly to the DPWH to speed up its response and provide a permanent solution.&quot;Sa Department of Public Works, sila &#x27;yung nangangasiwa ng mga paggawang ganito… Nananawagan po ako na kung maaari ay mas mabilis &#x27;yung kanilang pag-aksyon dito upang mabigyan agad ng solusyon sapagkat napakahalaga po ito, lalo&#x27;t higit sa amin na kumbaga ay nabawasan na &#x27;yung aming pangamba,&quot; he said.DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon said the government may face difficulties pursuing contractors such as Sunwest because the company has already been blacklisted.Dizon said unfinished or damaged projects may have to be terminated and subjected to a new bidding process so another contractor can complete or repair them.&quot;Kailangan niyan i-terminate &#x27;yung proyekto kasi hindi tapos eh, &#x27;no? And then kailangan ipapa-bid natin para may magtatapos at may mag-aayos. Pero ngayon, walang mag-aayos &#x27;yan kasi wala na, wala na ang Sunwest,&quot; Dizon said.He added that if there are still remaining funds that have not been released to the contractor, those funds could be used once the project undergoes a new bidding process.&quot;Hindi pa ata fully paid &#x27;yan. So may natitira pang pera. Kung natitira ang pera, kailangan i-rebid natin kasi wala na si Sunwest,&quot; Dizon added.For now, residents living near the damaged flood control structures have little choice but to remain on alert whenever water levels in nearby rivers begin to rise.

Residents and barangay officials in Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro, are once again appealing to DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon to personally look into and take immediate action on the collapse of several flood control projects in the town.

Residents and barangay officials in Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro, are once again appealing to DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon to personally look into and take immediate action on the collapse of several flood control projects in the town.

Sablayan residents urge DPWH action on collapsed flood control projects

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Sablayan residents urge DPWH action on collapsed flood control projects

Dennis Datu,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 29, 2026 07:50 AM PHT

Read More:

DPWH

Vince Dizon

Flood Control

Sablayan

Occidental Mindoro

Habagat

Department of Public Works and Highways

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