DAVAO CITY — The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is moving to put more flood-control projects in the Davao Region under the proposed 2027 national budget, following renewed concerns over flooding and the long-delayed implementation of a comprehensive flood-control plan for Davao City.
The DPWH has identified ₱2.024 billion for priority flood-mitigation projects across the Davao Region in the proposed 2027 budget, according to the latest clarification reported by the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
But the announcement comes with an important caveat: the 2027 spending plan is still subject to the national budget process and congressional approval. The proposed allocation should therefore not yet be treated as money already released for construction.
The development follows renewed scrutiny of Davao’s flood-control preparations after severe flooding hit parts of the city in July.
Davao’s long-delayed flood master plan
At the center of the issue is the Davao City Flood Control and Drainage Master Plan and Feasibility Study, prepared with assistance from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon said in late July that the agency was looking to provide funding for the master plan in 2027 because there was no funding for it in the current year’s budget.
The master plan was completed and submitted in 2023, but Dizon acknowledged that it remained at the planning stage and still lacked detailed engineering designs needed before actual implementation.
The JICA-backed study is designed to take a broader approach to flooding, covering the Davao, Matina and Talomo river basins and addressing riverine, inland and coastal flooding.
Among the proposed measures are upstream retention or retarding ponds, river dredging, river improvements and other structural interventions intended to slow and control the movement of floodwaters before they reach densely populated areas.
Immediate action planned along Talomo River
While the larger master plan remains in development, DPWH said it would undertake more immediate measures along the Talomo River.
Dizon said the agency would dredge portions of the river and strengthen existing river dikes by adding gabions.
The work is expected to be funded through the DPWH’s Quick Response Fund, providing an interim response while the larger flood-control program goes through the planning, engineering and budget processes.
The timing is significant.
Dizon’s visit to Davao followed the July 24 flash flood, which caused extensive disruption and displaced residents in affected communities. During his inspection, the DPWH chief questioned why stronger flood-protection measures had not been put in place despite previous flooding incidents and government spending in the area.
A plan that could take years to fully materialize
The JICA study envisions a much larger system than simply dredging rivers.
SunStar Davao reported that the proposed master plan includes river dredging, cut-off works and bridges, and retarding ponds designed to retain water during severe weather events.
The study identified multiple areas that could be covered by the project, including parts of Davao City’s low-lying and flood-prone communities.
The proposed retarding ponds are particularly important because DPWH officials have emphasized that flooding in Davao cannot be addressed solely downstream.
Dizon explained that heavy rainfall in upland areas can send large volumes of water rapidly toward the city, making upstream water retention an important part of any long-term flood-control strategy.
Davao officials demand action, not another promise
The proposed 2027 funding has also reignited criticism over why the city’s flood-control master plan has taken years to move from study to implementation.
Davao City First District Representative Paolo Duterte has questioned the delay, arguing that the JICA-backed plan had already been submitted to government in 2023.
He has called for accountability and faster implementation of long-term flood-control measures, stressing that flood protection requires more than isolated dredging projects.
According to SunStar, Duterte pointed to the need for a comprehensive approach involving river improvements, dikes, drainage systems, watershed management and implementation of the master plan.
Davao’s infrastructure budget pipeline is already substantial
The proposed flood-control spending is part of a much broader infrastructure budget picture for the region.
The Davao Regional Development Council earlier endorsed the FY 2027 budget proposals of government agencies in the region totaling ₱281.13 billion, with DPWH Region XI’s proposed budget listed at about ₱26.08 billion.
Infrastructure accounted for roughly ₱126.64 billion, or 45.05% of the region’s endorsed 2027 budget proposals.
That context matters because the ₱2.024-billion flood-mitigation figure represents a specific portion of the region’s proposed infrastructure spending rather than the entire DPWH budget for Davao.
The bigger question: when will construction actually begin?
For Davao residents who have repeatedly experienced flooding, the critical issue may no longer be whether another flood-control plan exists.
It is whether the plan moves from study, funding proposal and engineering design to actual construction.
The DPWH’s commitment to seek 2027 funding is an important step, but funding in a proposed national budget does not automatically mean immediate construction.
The master plan still requires the necessary engineering work, budget approval and implementation processes before major projects can proceed. Dizon himself acknowledged that the master plan was still without detailed engineering designs when he announced the proposed 2027 funding push.
And that leaves Davao with a difficult question:
After years of studies and repeated flooding, will 2027 finally be the year Davao’s long-term flood-control solution moves from paper to concrete?
For communities living in flood-prone areas, that answer could matter far more than the size of the budget headline.
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