27 March 2023
Maitum, Sarangani, Mechanically Stabilized Earth Wall
Maccaferri MSE Wall designed to withstand extreme loads and address the issue of earth retention that has been occurring in the area.
The province of Sarangani in Central Mindanao, Philippines, is known due to its abundance of cultural sites and natural wonders such as beaches, lakes, mangrove forests, and bird sanctuaries. Yet, due to the proximity of active faults, this region is one of the most seismically active in the country.
In preparation for these natural disasters, the Department of Public Works and Highways has spearheaded initiatives aimed at enhancing the region’s resilience to major earthquakes and other natural disasters. Roads that have been damaged by slip, slope collapse, and landslides near Maitum, Lake Sebu, have been required to undergo rehabilitation and reconstruction.
Maccaferri Philippines supplied the materials and assisted in the installation of the earth retaining wall to rebuild road slips. It has also been shown to be modular and versatile due to its ease of construction and suitability for most ground conditions.
Maccaferri’s Terramesh System, a modular system used to form a gabion-faced MSE wall was used. The facing section of the unit is formed by connecting a back panel and diaphragms to the main fascia unit, thus creating the rectangular-shaped cells used for stone confinement. The geogrid reinforcement, fascia, and lid are all one continuous panel of mesh, requiring no cuts operations on site.
The structure has a total length of 70 meters and a wall height of 14 meters. The retaining structure was able to withstand extreme loads, which allowed it to successfully address the issue of earth retention that had been occurring in the area.
The construction started in June 2022 and was completed in January 2023.
Client: RFP Builders
Contractor: FH Gopiteo Construction and Supply
