Cebu's Cotcot River flood control project: Design flaws linked to severe flooding?

A flood control project along Cebu's Cotcot River downstream has raised concerns over potential design flaws that may have worsened past typhoon damage. A 2017 master plan for the project reportedly omitted a vital engineering design. Families in the area suffered severe flooding during Typhoon Tino (Kalmaegi) in 2025, and there is speculation that the current flood control project may have contributed to the exacerbated damage. Furthermore, the project is linked to the Discayas, a construction firm often embroiled in controversy in the Philippines. Rappler's investigation revealed that the master plan for this flood control project, created in 2017, lacked crucial engineering considerations. This could mean that the project's intended function of controlling natural water flow and mitigating flood risks has not been fully realized. Further investigation is needed to determine how these design deficiencies contributed to past typhoon damage, particularly during Typhoon Tino in 2025, and what impact they have on Cebu's overall flood control systems. Infrastructure projects in the Philippines frequently face scrutiny regarding contractor selection and the quality of design and construction, and this case is no exception. Source: Rappler Philippines