Floodwaters have eroded the riverbank along the national highway in Barangay Layog, Pagalungan, Maguindanao del Sur, causing congestion and delays for commuters and motorists after authorities implemented a single-lane traffic scheme.
Maguindanao del Sur Rep. Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu, who inspected the area on Saturday along with Pagalungan Vice Mayor Salik Mamasabulod said only a few meters separated the eroding riverbank from the highway.
Mangudadatu said rising floodwaters from the Pulangi River have been eroding the soil wall supporting the highway, creating a “very alarming situation” that threatens to cut off a vital transportation link.
He said the floodwaters, originating from Bukidnon and Cotabato provinces, have changed their course, directly impacting the highway’s foundation.
The lawmaker called on Secretary Manuel Bonoan of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to immediately release flood control funds to address the situation so as not to inconvenience commuters.
The highway links Cotabato City and Davao City.
Mangudadatu first raised the issue during a hearing on August 20 of the House committee on public works and highways of which he is a member.
He said the erosion, if left unchecked, would disrupt the economy and travel along the Cotabato-Davao highway.
During the hearing, the congressman questioned the disparity in funding allocation, noting that his district receives a “meager” amount compared to other regions.
He pointed out that while the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) receives a P92-billion block grant, Region 12 receives a budget of P196 billion.
In the absence of immediate government funds, Mangudadatu has enlisted the help of contractors who are voluntarily contributing resources.
They have deployed heavy equipment and installed sheet piles to temporarily reinforce the collapsing riverbank.
The Ministry of Transportation and Communication and the Ministry of Trade, Investments and Tourism of BARMM have also expressed concerns on the economic impact if the eroded portion of the national highway collapses.
Mamasabulod stated that the last time the area received flood control funding was in 1982.
He said the problem began when the Pulangi River changed course, displacing many families and inundating what were once farmlands.
He estimated that at least 500 meters of the riverbank require immediate flood control measures, and he hoped the erosion would not reach a nearby bridge.
An estimated P200 million is needed for the urgent construction of a revetment or flood control structure.
While the BARMM has its own Ministry of Public Works (MPW), national highways fall under the jurisdiction of the DPWH based on the Bangsamoro Law.
The MPW is primarily responsible for provincial roads, vertical infrastructure, and local flood control projects, while the DPWH handles national infrastructure.
BARMM Interim Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua recently visited the site to personally assess the situation and has instructed his ministers to take action to prevent it from worsening. (Ferdinandh B. Cabrera/MindaNews)
