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Merriam del Rosario
25 August 2025
Baguio council probes Legarda Road closure legality after collapse
BAGUIO CITY — The Baguio City Council is investigating the partial collapse and closure of Legarda Road, questioning whether proper procedures under the Local Government Code of 1991 were followed.
In its September 15, 2022 session, councilors cited Section 458 of the Code, which requires legislative approval for any road closure or traffic scheme.
Some officials warned that the one-way traffic currently enforced on Legarda Road may not have been legally authorized.
The collapse was traced to deep excavation by DA Salazar Builders for a condominium project of Anstay Realty & Development Corporation.
Engineers from the Department of Public Works and Highways–Baguio City District Engineering Office (DPWH-BCDEO) said heavy rains in July further weakened the slope, leaving only one lane open.
Contractor Benjamin Sernande said his company had obtained the necessary permits from the City Building and Architecture Office and is assuming full responsibility for repairs.
He committed to reopening the damaged section by October 15, 2025, although DPWH-BCDEO noted that slope protection works must first be completed.
The contractor had earlier sought an extension of the restoration deadline from August 5 to September 26, 2025 due to technical issues.
Concerns from the council
Councilor Betty Lourdes Tabanda led the questioning on legality, stressing the need for council approval in road closures.
Vice Mayor Faustino Olowan reiterated this point, instructing DPWH-BCDEO and the contractor to submit documents proving compliance.
Other councilors raised practical concerns.
Joel Alangsab argued that heavy trucks and roadside stockpiles worsened erosion and said repairs should have been prioritized before construction.
Vladimir Cayabas urged minimal disruption to major thoroughfares like Legarda Road, while Edison Bilog flagged blocked drainage channels that could aggravate erosion risks.
Councilor Leandro Yangot Jr. said the collapse should serve as a lesson for better planning and monitoring, while Peter Fianza questioned whether ongoing repairs implied admission of liability.
Sernande maintained the collapse was accidental and worsened by natural factors.
Council directives
The city council ordered DPWH-BCDEO to submit a detailed report on repair efforts and investigate possible violations of water flow regulations.
Vice Mayor Olowan also directed the agency to file a formal request with the city government for the road closure, stressing that unilateral action would not comply with the Local Government Code.
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