Workers in the P250-million highway widening project in San Vicente, Virac are using seawater in mixing concrete for the seawall embankment, raising apprehensions among residents that it could collapse during storm surges.
A concerned citizen informed the Tribune last week regarding the irregular practice of the workers of GCI Construction, the Naga City-based company implementing the project for the DPWH Regional Office No. V.
One worker was observed getting water from the sea at the nearby reef and transferring the contents to a drum beside a one-bagger mixer, with another laborer using a smaller pail in adding water to the concrete mix.
The concrete mix was being used in the widened road’s sloping embankment, which would bear the brunt of waves during severe weather.
Residents of houses at the other side of the road say the illegal practice has been going on for sometime and claimed that they have seen undersized reinforcing bars being used during construction.
Current construction standards do not allow the use of seawater in mixing concrete as it contains harmful salts that reduce the strength of concrete and lead to the corrosion of reinforcing steel.