Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon expressed frustration on Wednesday over what he described as a “preventable” flood disaster in Davao City.
He said years of unfinished flood control projects and poor maintenance within the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) worsened the devastation.
While inspecting the Taal Bailey Bridge in Bangkal, Davao City, and the Talomo River five days after floods inundated Taal, Bangkal, and nearby communities, Dizon questioned why flood mitigation measures identified after the 2019 flooding were never completed despite the billions of pesos allocated to the DPWH over the years.
“Ano, nakakagalit talaga… Since 2019, walang nangyari dito. Hindi in-address,” Dizon told reporters.
He said portions of the river dike had already been raised by about two meters, but the project was left unfinished, allowing floodwaters to continue overflowing into residential areas.
“Kung nagawa sana iyon seven years ago, hindi sana ganito kalaki ang perwisyo ng mga kababayan natin dito,” he said.
Dizon immediately ordered the continuation of the dike elevation project, saying construction should begin as early as Thursday.
He estimated the cost at less than P100 million, calling it a relatively inexpensive project that should have been completed years ago.
“This is not expensive. And yet it was not done. Why?” he said.
Asked who should be held accountable, Dizon said responsibility rests within the DPWH.
“Obviously, fault ng DPWH iyon. Fault ng leadership, both national and local,” he said.
The DPWH chief also blamed nearly a decade of silt buildup caused by the lack of river dredging, saying it significantly reduced the Talomo River’s capacity to carry floodwaters.
“Preventable lahat ito kung gagawin ang trabaho nang tama,” Dizon stressed.
He said the department would revisit the Talomo River Flood Control Master Plan and prioritize structural interventions, including sabo dams, retarding basins, river rehabilitation, and the completion of flood control projects.
Meanwhile, Davao City First District Representative Paolo “Pulong” Duterte urged Dizon to examine DPWH records and identify those responsible for the delays.
In a statement issued after Dizon’s inspection, Duterte agreed that the flooding was infuriating but said the answers could already be found in the DPWH’s own records.
“Tama ka, Vince Dizon. Nakakagalit talaga,” Duterte said.
He noted that the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)-supported Davao Flood Control Master Plan had already been submitted to the national government in 2023 but remained unimplemented.
“So ang tanong, asa man diay ang plano sa tulo ka tuig? Natulog? O gipatulog?” he said.
Duterte urged the DPWH to examine its own records to determine who prepared, approved, and failed to fund the flood control projects.
“The records will tell you everything: who prepared the projects, who approved them, who failed to fund them, and who allowed a completed master plan to gather dust while Dabawenyos continued living in danger,” he said.
“Open the books. Name names. File cases,” Duterte added.
The lawmaker also urged the department to hold accountable those responsible for the delayed implementation of the flood control plan.
He said Dabawenyos deserve more than delayed promises, calling instead for accountability, decisive leadership, and the immediate implementation of flood mitigation measures that should have begun years ago.
More than 200 families were affected after heavy southwest monsoon (Habagat) rains triggered flooding in Bangkal, Talomo, and neighboring communities last week.
