Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte pushed back against Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon’s remarks questioning why severe flooding continued despite billions of pesos spent on public works, saying the answer could be found within the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Dizon earlier said he was angered after learning that floodwaters again inundated parts of Talomo, recalling that similar flooding occurred in 2019. He said a project to raise a dike by two meters had been started but was left unfinished, and questioned why it had not been completed despite billions of pesos allocated to the DPWH.
In a statement, Duterte agreed that the situation was frustrating but said the department should examine its own records instead of asking where the problem began.
The lawmaker said the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Davao Flood Control Master Plan had already been submitted to the national government as early as 2023 but remained unimplemented.
Duterte also noted Dizon’s statement that he had only recently learned about the master plan and that funding would only be proposed under the 2027 General Appropriations Act.
He questioned why no action had been taken over the past three years despite the existence of the flood control blueprint.
Duterte urged the DPWH to review its records to determine who prepared the projects, approved them, failed to provide funding and allowed the master plan to remain unimplemented.
He said officials should identify those responsible and file appropriate cases if warranted.
According to Duterte, flood control involves more than dredging and requires sustained investment in river improvements, dikes, drainage systems, watershed management and the implementation of a long-term master plan.
He said Davao residents deserve accountability, decisive leadership and the immediate implementation of the existing flood control plan.
