A Comparative Study on Soil Protection Performance of Rockfall, Geocell, and Coconet Geotextiles on Soil Erosion in Barangay Tuboran, Davao de Oro

Soil erosion remains comparatively understudied despite its societal importance and growing relevance under intensified tropical cyclone activity in the Philippines. This study presents a comparative evaluation of three geotextile-based erosion control systems—geocell, rockfall netting, and coconut coir fiber netting—implemented in Mawab, Davao de Oro. Performance was assessed over a 24-week period using three decision-oriented criteria: cost-effectiveness, tensile strength, and soil mass displaced. Rockfall netting exhibited superior tensile strength and the highest cost-effectiveness among the tested systems, indicating suitability where structural robustness and budget constraints are paramount. In contrast, coconut coir fiber netting most effectively limited soil displacement, a result attributed to its three-dimensional matrix that enhances particle entrapment and reduces overland flow velocity. Findings highlight the necessity of extending monitoring beyond 24 weeks to capture material degradation and seasonal variability, and of employing at least five replicated models per system under controlled conditions to improve statistical reliability. The study further recommends direct, site-specific rainfall measurement to enable rigorous correlation with erosion response, evaluation of hybrid geotextile configurations to exploit complementary mechanisms, and comprehensive soil characterization to relate protection performance to stratigraphy and index properties. These results provide practical guidance for selecting erosion control systems in locales with soil conditions comparable to Mawab and across cyclone-affected Philippine settings.