By Ruel Saldico

Local officials are pointing fingers over the collapse of a portion of the P50-million revetment along Bicol River in Naga City, Camarines Sur, funded by former representative and now Vice President Leni Robredo.

Almost 50 meters of the fortification near a private cemetery in Naga City sagged Friday afternoon, November 4, amid four days of continuous rains, chipping away soil in the riverbank some two meters near the tombs.

It forms part of the P650-million Bicol River rehabilitation project by then Camarines Sur third district representative Robredo, funded from the countrywide development fund (CDF) given by the past administration.

Robredo attended the revetment’s inauguration last September 9. Her camp remains mum about the incident.

Illegal fence?

The Department of Public Works and Highways blamed the collapse partly to the 100-meter concrete fence on top of the revetment, which the owner of the private cemetery built without securing consent and permit from barangay and city hall.

The city engineering office also pointed to the fence construction, as well as the revetment’s substandard quality.

Irene Mariano, owner of the Sto. Niño Memorial Park, admitted failure in securing permit for the fence construction, but denied it should be blamed for the collapse.

She also said the government cut 6.5 meters on the easement mandatory property line, but that the cemetery did not complain.

Mariano called for an investigation on the project’s program of work.

Naga mayor John Bongat said the city government has begun a special investigation on the incident and the project won’t be turned over, pending repair.

Bicol Goldrock Constructions (BGCC), the contractor of the project, agreed to reconstruct the structure according to DPWH suggestions.

But BGCC complained it had been working on the project for almost a year unpaid.