ICI urged to probe Davao region flood control projects

The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) should investigate 18 flood control projects in the Davao region, particularly in Davao Occidental and Davao City, that are unfinished, poorly situated, or even non-existent, House Infrastructure Committee chairperson and Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon said Tuesday.

Citing records from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Ridon said the 18 projects in Davao Occidental were classified as “no structure” (two projects), “incomplete” (10 projects), “poorly situated” (three projects), and “unconstructed” (three projects).

DPWH defines “poorly situated” as a project that “increases flooding downstream.”

“In the last two weeks, our team has been coordinating with several DPWH officials and staff to look further into the Davao Region, particularly in Davao City and Davao Occidental," he said during a press briefing. 

"So far, two important issues have emerged: ghost projects and substandard projects. The DPWH, however, has more detailed distinctions between projects,” Ridon added.

“There are no-structure projects—ghost flood control projects [in these areas]—from 2021 and also in 2025, involving almost the same area, which is the Davao Occidental District Engineering Office,” he added.

The projects Ridon flagged include:

No structure:

• Construction of Flood Control Structure, Barangay Kinangan, Malita, Davao Occidental
• Construction of Flood Control Structure, Barangay Little Baguio, Malita, Davao Occidental

Incomplete:

• Construction of Revetment along Talomo River, Sta. 3+880 to Sta. 4+120, Right Bank, Davao City (Project Start: 12/01/2021)
• Construction of Revetment along Talomo River, Sta. 3+542 to Sta. 3+817, Right Bank, Davao City (Project Start: 12/16/2021)
• Construction of Flood Mitigation Structure along Maa Creek, Sta. 0+487 to Sta. 0+937, Don Julian Rodriguez Ave Section, Left Bank, Davao City (Project Start: 03/01/2022)
• Construction of Revetment along Davao River, Barangay 8-A, Davao City (Project Start: 04/13/2022)
• Construction of Revetment along Davao River, Crocodile Park Section, Davao City (Project Start: 04/13/2022)
• Construction of Flood Mitigation Structure at Purok 16, Block 2, Barangay Catalunan Pequeño, Davao City (Project Start: 04/13/2022)
• Construction of Seawall from San Jose connecting Seawall of Brgy. Leon Garcia, IKP & MASEA, Brgy. Gov. Vicente Duterte, Agdao, Davao City (Project Start: 06/02/2022)
• Construction of Revetment along Matina River, Matina Pangi Bridge II Downstream, Both Banks, Davao City (Project Start: 08/14/2023)
• Construction of Revetment along Matina River, Asico Bridge Upstream Right Bank, Davao City (Project Start: 02/20/2023)
• • Construction of Revetment along Matina River, Matina Pangi Road Section Right Bank, Davao City (Project Start: 02/20/2023)

Poorly situated:

• Construction of Concrete Revetment, Barangay Pinalpalan, Malita, Davao Occidental (Project Start: 05/05/2023)
• Construction of Flood Mitigation Structure along Bunawan River, Sta. 2+020 to Sta. 2+440, Davao City (Project Start: 04/13/2022)
• Construction of Concrete Revetment along Davao River, New Valencia Section, Sta. 0+000 to Sta. 0+500, Davao City (Project Start: 03/09/2023)

Unconstructed:

• Construction of Revetment along Talomo River, Sta. 3+800 to Sta. 4+060, Left Bank, Davao City (Project Start: 12/01/2021)
• Construction of Seawall at Bucana, Sta. 0+000 to Sta. 0+400, Brgy. Lasang, Davao City (Project Start: 02/16/2022)
• Construction of Concrete Revetment along Davao River, Pangyan, Davao City

Ridon stressed that many of these projects, dating from 2021 to 2023, remain unfinished or poorly implemented.

“We have every reason to look into each contractor in this district and the district engineer to examine the actual implementation of these projects, particularly flood control. Most are incomplete, and these are projects from 2021, 2022, and 2023—not 2025,” Ridon said.

“These should have been long finished. We want to give the District Engineering Office the benefit of the doubt, but these issues need to be addressed,” he added.

Ridon said the poorly situated projects are even more concerning.

“DPWH defines poorly situated projects as structures that don’t protect vital assets and may even increase flooding downstream. These projects should not have been proposed in the first place,” he said.

“In reality, these projects do not benefit communities and may worsen flooding. After this briefing, we will immediately coordinate with the ICI to include these projects in their site visits, if they haven’t been included already,” Ridon added.

GMA News Online has reached out to the DPWH Davao City District Engineering Office and Davao Occidental District Engineering Office for comment and will publish their responses once available.—MCG, GMA Integrated News