By: Angelica Arquero
A family in Barangay Irisan, Baguio City, is reeling from property damage after a riprap wall from a nearby church collapsed onto their house during heavy rainfall on June 4.
Yvonne, the homeowner, said she was on her way home around 4:00 PM when her siblings rushed out to tell her what happened.
“When I got home, I went straight to the bathroom and saw the huge rocks completely covering it,” she shared.
Thankfully, no one was inside the house when the riprap fell.
But she noted that her father had just taken it upon himself to start moving some of the rocks days earlier due to what they felt was a slow response from the church.
“My dad said he’d just take care of it himself. He and my youngest sibling started moving the stones up,” she said.
Barangay Irisan Councilor Arthur D. Carlos explained that heavy rainfall likely caused the new riprap structure to collapse.
“The rain was really strong. That could have weakened the base of the wall and caused it to fall onto the nearby private property,” he said.
He added that the riprap was relatively new, likely only two months old, and not yet reinforced enough to withstand such downpours.
“It was a new wall. When the heavy rains came, it just gave way,” Carlos said.
The church has since pledged to take responsibility, remove the debris, and compensate the family for the damages.
Meanwhile, the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) has extended assistance to the affected household.
“We’re reminding everyone to be extra cautious, especially now that the rainy season has started,” Carlos said. “Let’s continue helping each other stay safe.”
