A flood control and slope protection project in the upland town of Adams, Ilocos Norte has been repeatedly suspended due to what official records describe as “unfavorable weather conditions,” raising concerns over construction delays and the durability of infrastructure in an area regularly hit by heavy rainfall and typhoons.

Documents obtained by DAILY TRIBUNE show that the project — formally titled Rehabilitation of Pancian Adams–Calanasan Road, Chainage 11+100 to Chainage 11+200, Barangay Poblacion, Adams, Ilocos Norte — is being implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Regional Office I using funds from the government’s Quick Response Fund. Local residents said a slope protection structure with a roadway above it had already been built in the same area in 2018.

The project has an approved budget of P10 million, with a contract amount of P9,457,249.66, later slightly revised to P9,457,240.58. The contract was awarded to DZEE Builders & Construction Supply, which submitted a bid of P9,457,242.21.

The scope of work includes the construction of about 140 meters of flood control structures and a 140-meter Portland cement concrete pavement road section. These are intended to stabilize riverbanks, reduce erosion, and improve access for residents, farmers, and the transport of goods in the mountainous town.

Project records show that construction faced repeated interruptions after mobilization on 19 April 2024. Work was suspended from 22 to 24 April, briefly resumed, then halted again on 26 to 27 April and 29 to 30 April. Additional suspensions were recorded from 11 to 19 May, 3 to 15 June and 16 to 27 June. In total, 41 calendar days were credited as weather-related delays.

Because of the stoppages, the original 50-calendar-day contract period, which ran from 19 April to 7 June 2024, was extended to 91 calendar days, pushing the target completion date to 18 July 2024. Each suspension entry cited “frequent light to moderate rains” as the reason for halting work.

Checks against publicly available advisories show that some suspension periods coincided with documented adverse weather. On 11 May 2024, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) issued a General Flood Advisory for Region I, including Ilocos Norte, overlapping with the 11 to 19 May suspension. PAGASA bulletins also showed that a weather system locally named “Uwan” affected Northern Luzon in late June 2024, overlapping with the 16 to 27 June suspension window.

Residents said the area has seen a recurring cycle of construction, damage, and repair. The slope protection structure built in 2018 was reportedly damaged by strong typhoons in 2023 and again in 2024. Repairs were carried out using Quick Response Funds, but local sources said the structure sustained further damage in 2025 during Typhoon Mirasol.

DPWH documents noted that during one typhoon event, floodwaters came from the opposite side of the road and flowed through existing canals and pipe culverts. The volume exceeded their designed capacity, causing overflow that damaged the road and slope protection. The agency said the affected section has since been repaired and that the drainage design has been revised, with a box culvert planned to address capacity issues.

While some residents acknowledge that Adams was once among the most isolated towns in Ilocos Norte, reachable only through difficult mountain routes, they also stress the need for infrastructure that can withstand increasingly severe weather. For the community, the repeated suspensions and repairs highlight the urgency of more climate-resilient engineering solutions to ensure that current investments translate into reliable, long-term access.