During its regular session on September 15, 2022, the Baguio City Council scrutinized the partial collapse of Legarda Road after deep excavation for a condominium project triggered road damage.
Engr. Jason David of the Department of Public Work and High Ways-Baguio City District Engineering Office (DPWH-BCDEO) explained that the partial collapse was triggered by deep excavation works conducted by DA Salazar Builders for a condominium project by Anstay Realty & Development Corporation and was worsened by heavy monsoon rains in July, leaving the road passable with only one lane.
David noted that the contractor had initially planned to complete restoration by August 5, 2025 but requested an extension to September 26, 2025 due to unforeseen complications.
Engr. Jerome Andrew Murrf, also from DPWH-BCDEO, added that slope protection, including the installation of micropiles and a reinforced concrete wall, was being constructed below the half-lane most affected, and that full restoration could only proceed once these safety measures were in place.
Benjamin Sernande, the contractor of the project, confirmed that all necessary permits were secured from the City Building and Architecture Office (CBAO), He said the company is assuming responsibility for rectifying the damage and is coordinating closely with DPWH-BCDEO and CEO.
Sernande promised to reopen the partially collapsed national road by October 15, 2025.
Councilor Betty Lourdes Tabanda questioned the legality of implementing a one-way scheme on Legarda Road without a resolution from the city council, citing Section 458 of the Local Government Code of 1991 which requires prior coordination and approval for any temporary or permanent road closure or modification.
Vice Mayor Faustino Olowan stressed that any temporary or permanent road closure requires prior approval from the city council and urged DPWH-BCDEO and the contractor to submit all communications to verify that proper consent was secured.
Councilor Joel Alangsab claimed that heavy trucks and construction materials along the roadside likely worsened erosion, and argued that repairing the damaged portion of road should have been prioritized before continuing condominium construction.
For councilor Vladimir Cayabas, future projects should minimize traffic disruptions, particularly on major thoroughfares like Legarda Road, and urged timely updates from the contractor and engineers while considering potential weather impacts in October.
Meanwhile, Councilor Edison Bilog raised concerns over the monitoring of drainage along the construction site and presented pictures as evidence that sandbags temporarily blocking drainage channels could exacerbate erosion hazards. David clarified that the temporary blockage was a measure to control water flow during repairs. Sernande explained that obstructions were removed once drainage management was completed.
Citing previous slope-related road failures, Councilor Leandro Yangot Jr. said the incident should serve as a learning opportunity and called for stricter monitoring, planning, and coordination between technical and regulatory teams to safeguard public infrastructure.
Councilor Peter Fianza questioned whether the contractor’s work implied admission of responsibility for the damage, with Sernande maintaining that the incident was accidental and that protective measures were implemented to safeguard both public and private property. The contractor further emphasized that natural factors contributed to the road collapse.
The city council requested DPWH-BCDEO to submit a report on the collapsed road section, detailing measures to meet the projected reopening date of October 15, 2025, and to investigate whether the contractor or the property owner violated regulations governing the diversion or blockage of water flow.
Furthermore, Olowan instructed DPWH-BCDEO to submit a formal request or communication to the city government for the road closure to ensure compliance with the Local Government Code rather than being done unilaterally by the agency or the contractor. **Jordan G. Habbiling
