Davao City Second District Representative Omar Vincent Duterte called on contractors and builders to join him and become allies in reform efforts during the Construction Industry Fellowship Night 2025 at the Davao Convention and Trade Center on Thursday.
Duterte also challenged industry leaders composed of the Philippine Constructors Association (PCA) and the Davao Constructors Association Center Inc. (DCACI) to help improve the public’s perception of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) by working with integrity and committing to ethical construction practices.
Duterte described corruption in DPWH as a “recurring project” that keeps resurfacing in the national budget.
“Naay mga proyekto nga overpriced, underbuilt, or sometimes invisible—naa sa papel pero wala sa dalan,” he said in jest.
However, he stressed that corruption has consequences that are no laughing matter.
“It’s the everyday citizens who end up paying the price,” he said.
Duterte cited substandard bridges, unfinished flyovers, and flood control projects that never materialize as examples of how corruption robs people of safety and progress.
He also challenged members of the construction industry to take a stand.
“Kung naa moy makita nga anomalies, ayaw kahadlok. Report it. Kung makakita mo ug project nga substandard, ayaw lang pasagdi. Dili pwede nga kita-kita ra ang magtinabangay sa corruption — kinahanglan kita-kita pud ang magtinabangay sa paglimpyo ani,” Duterte said.
Duterte emphasized that integrity must outweigh fear of losing projects.
“Mas lisod kung mawala ang inyong kredibilidad ug respeto,” he noted.
He underscored that cooperation between the public and private sectors is essential to ending corruption.
“Nindot unta kung ang inyong pride dili lang sa pag-ingon nga ‘ako nagpatukod ana nga building,’ kundi ‘ako nagpatukod ana nga building nga lig-on, limpyo ug walay bahid sa korapsyon. Kung kamo magpadayon sa inyong trabaho nga tarong, ug kami sa gobyerno magpadayon sa pagpangusog sa transparency ug accountability, then maybe — just maybe — ang sunod generation dili na mag-joke about DPWH as ‘Department of Public Works and Ha? Wala?’” he said.
The Construction Industry Fellowship Night 2025 was among the highlights of the PHILCONSTRUCT Mindanao 2025, the region’s premier construction trade show at the SMX Convention Center Davao in Lanang, Davao City.
The event gathered industry leaders, innovators, and changemakers working to transform the built environment across Mindanao.
