DPWH: Design of faulty dike in Arayat to be revised
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said on Monday that it would overhaul the design of the flood control dike in Arayat, Pampanga, that collapsed in 2024 due to a faulty structural foundation.
It added that a technical assessment of the collapsed infrastructure was being conducted after President Marcos ordered a full investigation of the project.
“Engineering teams are already on-site to implement urgent measures to protect affected houses and residents,” it said in a statement.
According to the DPWH, it is already identifying all liable parties, including the contractor, DPWH personnel and other individuals involved in the project.
The findings will then be submitted to the Office of the Ombudsman and the Department of Justice for the possible filing of cases.
Affected families
The P91-million dike located in Barangay Candating in Arayat, Pampanga, collapsed in August 2024, leading to the evacuation of at least 10 families in the affected area.
During an inspection of the project last year, Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon found out that the dike collapsed just over a year after it was finished in July 2023. This, he noted, showed that it was substandard, either due to a defect in the design or the poor implementation of the project.
