Jonathan Frederic De Santos

Dizon finds deficiencies that contributed to Davao flooding

Article (news)

Hernel Tocmo

<p><strong> </strong>DAVAO CITY — The Department of Public Works and Highways inspected the flood control project in Barangay Talomo Proper in Davao City, on Wednesday, and found some deficiencies in the dike that may have contributed to severe flooding last Friday.</p><p>Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon said the section of the Talomo River near the houses heavily affected by the flooding has a concrete flood control structure but that the installation of the gabions was incomplete.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/28/marcos-in-duterte-stronghold-davao-1310"><strong>Marcos visits Duterte stronghold Davao </strong></a> </div><p>Dizon reprimanded the district engineer for failing to install the gabions along the entire length of the dike.</p><p>“Nakakagalit talaga eh. Kasi nangyari na pala to 2019, although mas grabe noong Biyernes. Pero since 2019, walang nangyari dito, hindi in-address,&quot; he said.</p><p>(It is really enraging because this had already happened in 2019 — although flooding last Friday was worse. But since 2019, this was left unaddressed.) </p><p>He said flooding would not have been so bad if measures like extending the gabions and raising the dike&#x27;s height had been implemented earlier.</p><p>Dizon also questioned the district engineer on why the river had not been dredged in the past 10 years, making it shallower and more prone to flooding over time.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/7/25/2-bata-napakapit-sa-puno-sa-pagragasa-ng-baha-sa-davao-city-2135"><strong>2 bata napakapit sa puno sa pagragasa ng baha sa Davao City</strong></a> </div><p>He added that a master plan completed in 2023 and which includes construction of a dam or detention basin for water has yet to be implemented.</p><p>“Hindi ko alam bakit walang ginawa, sa dami ng perang bumuhos dito,&quot; he said.</p><p>(I don&#x27;t know why that wasn&#x27;t done considering how much money was allocated here.)</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>UNIMPLEMENTED PLAN</strong></div><p>Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte also used the term &quot;nakakagalit&quot;, or enraging, as residents in Talomo were forced to endure another devastating flood seven years after the 2019 flooding.</p><p>Duterte stressed that the JICA Davao Flood Control Master Plan has remained unimplemented and had not been funded since 2023. </p><p>“Mas nakakagalit na ikaw mismo ang umamin na ngayon mo lang nalaman ang tungkol dito at funding will only be proposed under the 2027 [General Appropriations Act],&quot; he said in a statement.</p><p>(What is more enraging is that you yourself admitted that you only found out about this now and that funding will only be proposed under the 2027 GAA.)</p><p>He told Dizon, named public works secretary last September, that the reason nothing was done since 2019 &quot;is not outside the DPWH.&quot;</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/7/25/torre-inusisa-ang-flood-control-matapos-pasukin-ng-baha-ang-kanyang-bahay-sa-davao-city-1948"><strong>Torre inusisa ang flood control matapos pasukin ng baha ang bahay sa Davao City </strong></a> </div><p>Duterte also urged Dizon to review the records to see who prepared and approved the projects and who failed to secure funding for them.</p><p>He also challenged Dizon to identify those responsible for failing to implement the master plan and to file appropriate cases against them.</p><p>“The blueprint already existed. What was missing was political urgency,” the congressman said.</p>

<p>The Department of Public Works and Highways inspected the flood control project in Barangay Talomo Proper in Davao City, on Wednesday, and found some deficiencies in the dike that may have contributed to severe flooding last Friday.</p>

The Department of Public Works and Highways inspected the flood control project in Barangay Talomo Proper in Davao City, on Wednesday, and found some deficiencies in the dike that may have contributed to severe flooding last Friday.