MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) announced on Monday, January 26, 2026, that it will completely overhaul the design of the flood control dike in Arayat, Pampanga, following its collapse due to “fundamental design flaws.”
The announcement comes after a direct order from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to investigate the structural failure and hold those responsible accountable.
Urgent Measures and Redesign The DPWH has deployed engineering teams to Barangay Candating in Arayat to address the immediate safety concerns of local residents.
- Technical Assessment: Experts are currently on-site evaluating the extent of the damage to the 100-meter-long slope protection project along the Pampanga River.
- Permanent Solution: The agency committed to a total redesign of the system to ensure it is “structurally sound and permanent,” moving away from the previous failed framework.
- Safety First: Immediate measures are being implemented to reinforce the remaining structure and protect nearby houses from potential flooding or further soil erosion.
Accountability and Prosecution In addition to the physical repairs, the DPWH is pursuing administrative and legal actions:
- Identifying Liability: The agency is in the process of identifying all liable parties, including the private contractor, DPWH personnel, and other individuals involved in the original project.
- Legal Referral: Findings from the investigation will be submitted to the Office of the Ombudsman and the Department of Justice (DOJ) for criminal and administrative prosecution.
Context of the Collapse The dike originally failed in August 2024, an event that led to the evacuation of at least 10 families. The DPWH’s investigation confirmed that the collapse was caused by structural foundation issues that the contractor failed to rectify.
The incident has become a focal point of the government’s broader effort to audit flood control projects nationwide. President Marcos has mandated that all such projects undergo rigorous inspection to prevent similar tragedies, with the first phase of this nationwide audit expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2026.