To curb flooding, rising elevation stricter road repair policy

CEBU, Philippines —  The Cebu City Government is tightening standards for road repairs and resurfacing to curb flooding, prevent roads from becoming higher than sidewalks and protect pedestrian access.

The Cebu City Council recently approved an ordinance requiring contractors and government agencies to observe stricter engineering standards in road repair, pothole patching, milling and overlay projects.

Authored by City Councilor Alvin Arcilla, the measure addresses concerns that repeated road overlays have gradually raised road elevations, contributing to flooding and reducing the height difference between roads and sidewalks.

The ordinance requires damaged road surfaces to undergo proper scraping, milling, cutting and squaring before new asphalt or concrete is applied. It also prohibits successive overlays without corrective measures to maintain proper road elevation and drainage.

Under the new policy, all road repairs, pothole patching, resurfacing and overlay works must follow appropriate preparatory procedures to ensure damaged sections are properly removed and repaired before new materials are laid.

Repairs undertaken without adequate milling, scraping or squaring will be considered substandard and non-compliant.

The ordinance covers roads and infrastructure projects under the Cebu City Government, as well as national roads within the city through coordination with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

Government personnel who knowingly approve or allow non-compliant road works may face administrative action.

Contractors and subcontractors found violating the ordinance may also face sanctions under existing procurement laws, including possible blacklisting and other contractual penalties, subject to due process.

The Department of Engineering and Public Works is tasked with monitoring compliance, inspecting ongoing projects, evaluating adherence to engineering standards and documenting violations. City officials are also expected to coordinate with the DPWH on inspections and recommendations involving national roads.

During public consultations, stakeholders cited areas where repeated road overlays had allegedly contributed to higher road elevations and drainage problems.

Representatives of the persons with disabilities sector also urged the city to ensure that road projects preserve accessible sidewalks, curb ramps and pedestrian pathways, stressing the need to protect vulnerable road users during construction.

Meanwhile, DPWH Secretary Giovanni Lopez has directed all district engineers and assistant district engineers to conduct weekly inspections of roads and infrastructure projects, warning that their performance will be assessed based on their presence and actions in the field.

In an interview during his recent visit to Cebu, Lopez said the directive, issued through a memorandum in compliance with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s instructions, aims to put an end to what he described as “aircon engineers” who remain in their offices instead of personally inspecting roads and ongoing projects.

Under the directive, district engineers and their assistants must regularly inspect their areas of responsibility, monitor project progress, identify road damage and potholes, and ensure that necessary repairs are undertaken promptly.

“They should no longer wait for reports or complaints from the public on social media before taking action. They must take the initiative to identify and address problems,” Lopez said.

He said the memorandum would also serve as a basis for evaluating the performance of DPWH personnel.

While acknowledging that some road problems may fall outside the department's jurisdiction, Lopez stressed that engineers must ensure that issues involving national roads under their responsibility are promptly addressed.

He questioned why potholes and damaged roads could remain unrepaired for months despite DPWH personnel being assigned to monitor these areas.

The secretary also said the department had started implementing a transparency portal and using its social media accounts to strengthen public accountability.

Weekly field inspections will be complemented by monthly reports submitted to the department to monitor compliance with the directive.

Lopez warned that engineers who fail to take their responsibilities seriously could face consequences, stressing that they must personally inspect projects and road conditions instead of relying solely on office reports.

“Hindi na puwede ang aircon engineer,” he said, reiterating that DPWH personnel must go into the field and perform their duties.