Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte vowed to ask for an explanation from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on its dubious road projects in Davao City.
The mayor made the statement due to the continuing complaints of flooding in Davao City, particularly in Laverna, Buhangin.
“So, in our own way, daghan man gina-restructure na mga drainage systems sa unsa lang na makaya sa atong kuwarta dinhi sa Davao kay ang kuwarta man gud naa sa national, sa DPWH. Naa na ang DPWH ana. I do not know kung kanus-a mahuman, maybe sa next episode sa “Basta Dabawenyo,” mangayo ko ug tubag sa ilaha,” Duterte said.
Duterte mentioned that when DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan came to Davao City along with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during the inauguration of the first segment of the Davao City Coastal Bypass Road in July last year, he personally talked to Bonoan to focus more on the drainage system of Davao City.
“Kahibaw mo, mga big ticket projects, dili na kaya sa atong syudad because given the system of government that we have, ang income man gud gamay lang maadto sa atoa ug mostly ana naa sa national. So, kinahanglan muagi na ug Congress. Mag-propose ug budget ang DPWH sa mga programa na ilang pagabuhaton, aprubahan sa mga congressman ug pirmahan sa Presidente,” the mayor explained.
Duterte explained that the flooding in Laverna, Buhangin is due to the ongoing road works of DPWH that started during the pandemic.
“Kana dinha sa Laverna naay murag project ang DPWH nga ongoing karon nga nagsugod na before pandemic pa or during the pandemic hangtod karon wala pa na nahuman. Pump na sya aron musuyop ug tubig ug ibalhin sa, apan wala pa nahuman,” he said.
The mayor said he even wrote to DPWH to prioritize the drainage system in the city.
“Actually, gisuwatan na nako ang DPWH sukad paglingkod pa lang gyud nako na i-prioritize nila ang mga drainage systems sa Davao pero ang ilang ginabuhat karon sige’g pamungkag ug mga semento nga pwede pa agian, mga aspalto nga puwede pang agian unya ilang sementuhon ug usab. Ambot nila,” Duterte said.
The mayor also said that DPWH should be devolved in the local government.
“Actually, kining DPWH kailangan ma devolve sa local kay gapataka ra mo sa inyong ginabuhat, nagsige mo ug pamungkag ug dalan unya inyong sementuhon bisan okay pa kay para magasto lang ninyo ang kuwarta, naa moy makuha nga kickback, mao na siya. So, kailangan mo i-devolve, you do not deserve to be government workers,” Duterte said.
