BAGUIO City’s council has requested the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE) and the Association of Structural Engineers of the Philippines, Inc. (ASEP) to evaluate the structural integrity of the ongoing construction of a parking facility being implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) near the Lion’s Head along Kennon Road.
Under Resolution No. 446, series of 2023, local legislators stated that the city government is a recipient of various national government projects such as construction of roads, buildings and other infrastructure projects implemented locally by the national and regional offices of concerned agencies.
The council had previously called for an inspection of the facility, citing previous city complaints of poor workmanship.
According to the council, the call for inspection was prompted by safety concerns raised by a Baguio-based engineer, as well as a track record of infrastructure in Baguio City being substandard.
According to DPWH-CAR, the parking facility will be turned over to the city government once completed.
The project includes the construction of gabions and mechanically stabilized earth (MSE), drainage structure, flume structure, box culvert, double crib wall, additional one-lane PCCP, and a bio-engineering system consisting of coconet, cocolog, and vegetation. These structures are meant to ensure a safe and reliable national road system.
Engineers from the DPWH-CAR assured the city council that a design analysis and hydraulic analysis were conducted. They claimed these analyses proved that the structures are safe.
City officials have also requested the Commission on Audit–Cordillera Administrative Region (COA-CAR) to conduct a technical inspection/evaluation on the ongoing project.
