Several areas in downtown Davao City experienced flooding following continuous heavy rains on Tuesday, August 19, 2025.

The areas affected included Barangay 20B, Ramons Magsaysay Avenue, Uyanguren, Corner Jacinto Extension, and JP Laurel Avenue-Mamay Road.

Some vehicles were stalled after their engines died while attempting to pass through floodwaters.

According to an official of Barangay 20B, the flooding was worsened by the high tide. However, floodwaters in some affected areas subsided when the rain stopped.

“Kusog man ang ulan pero dali ra man naga-drain mga within 30 to 45 minutes ang pag-drain niya,” Barangay 20B Chairman Eduardo Jose Vergara said.

When the rain stopped, stranded commuters crowded along major roads to wait for available rides.

To address the situation, the city government deployed city buses and vehicles from the City Transport and Traffic Management Office, City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, and Task Force Davao. Several units for the Peak Hours Augmentation Bus System (PHABS) were also deployed.

According to an official of Barangay Alfonso Angliongto Sr., the drainage culverts were too small to accommodate large volumes of water, which caused the flooding.

“From Buhangin down daghan og creek, actually sa may Roseville Subd., which is kana gyud sya ang area nga ginaagian gyud sa water from Buhangin area. Once mapuno ang among creek sa Roseville, mugawas gyud na siya dinhi sa main road, sa Mamay Road. Pag-abot sa Damosa area, mura syag ma-stock up kay gagmay na ang culvert pagawas,” Barangay Alfonso Angliongto, Sr. Councilman Gloria Baring said.

However, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) continues to replace the small culverts with larger ones, which would solve flooding in the area once completed.

“Ongoing ang project from DPWH, i-rehabilitate nila ang drainage system. So, karon makita siguro sa katawhan nga naa gyuy digging nahitabo tapos i-change man gud ang culvert into a bigger size para makaagi gyud ang tanang water gikan dira sa taas pababa diha, padulong sa dagat,” Baring said.

Davao City Ancillary Services Unit Head, Paul Bermejo, also said the Task Force Drainage and Road Right of Way, composed of national and local government agencies and private corporations, is also working to address the city’s flooding problem.

“Naa man mi Task Force Drainage and Road Right of Way, unya, naa diha tanan ang mga government agencies, national and local, pati ang private corporations, mga telco, didto siguro namo i-discuss kung unsa ang pinakamaayo nga solusyon sa pagbaha,” Bermejo said.