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Davaoeños perception of the current issues affecting the Philippines

by Contributor
written by Contributor

THE UNIVERSITY of Mindanao-Institute of Popular Opinion conducted an online survey from March 11 – 22, 2026, targeting 1,200 Davaoeños from the three districts of Davao City to describe their perception of the issues currently affecting the Philippine population.

Since the survey was done online via sponsored ads on three Meta Platforms (Facebook, Messenger, and Instagram), IPO relied heavily on online, pre-defined, targeted social media users who met the inclusion criteria and were targeted for contact within the defined geographical radius. Respondents were defined to be at least 18 years old, have valid/active email address, and a resident in Davao City.

The survey was done at a 95% confidence level and a +/- 2.83% margin of error. Questions asked are related to their awareness and level of concerns on the identified huge issues affecting the country today, like the flood control scandals, impeachment of the President, impeachment of the Vice President, PRRD at the ICC, and the anomalies revealed by the 18 ex-marines. 

When asked about their knowledge of the current issues affecting the country, 9 of 10 Davaoeños were aware of the flood control scandals, impeachment of the President and the Vice President, and the issues of PRRD at the ICC. 8 of 10 Davaoeños said that they are aware of the anomalies revealed by the 18 ex-marines.

In terms of the extent of their concern about these issues, approximately 9 out of 10 Davaoeños were mostly concerned about the flood control scandal. Meanwhile, 6 of every 10 Davaoeños were concerned about the issues of PRRD arising at the ICC. Also, 6 of 10 Davaoeños were very concerned about the impeachment of the Vice President and the anomalies revealed by the 18 ex-marines. 4 out of 10 Davaoeños were only concerned with the impeachment of the President, which garnered the least intensity of concern. 

When asked which issue should be prioritized by the government, flood control scandals emerged as the top concern, with approximately 8 of every 10 Davaoeños selecting it as the highest priority among all issues. This was followed distantly by other issues like the impeachment of the President (11.4%), impeachment of the Vice President (5.7%), PRRD issues at the ICC (4.8%), and anomalies revealed by the 18 ex-marines (1.9%). This implies that Davaoeños strongly favor addressing issues that directly affect daily lives over political matters.

When clarified as to the reason for choosing a particular issue as a priority, only the issue of flood control contains significant responses. Davaoeños expressed a strong call for the government to prioritize solving issues on the flood control scandals because of the issue of corruption and misuse of public funds, which emerged as the most dominant response among Davaoeños. 

Other top reasons include demand for accountability and justice, concern for public safety, lives and welfare of the community when flood impact is concerned. Meanwhile, broader sentiments such as distrust in government, economic concerns, and frustration with governance priorities were present but ranked lower, indicating that while these issues matter, they are secondary to immediate concerns about corruption and its consequences. 



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News

MAP urges Davao City to strengthen flood preparedness amid Typhoon Tino aftermath and approaching Typhoon Uwan

by Contributor
written by Contributor

FOLLOWING the flash floods that recently hit parts of Cebu Province due to Typhoon Tino, the Mindanao Alliance for Progress (MAP) is calling on the Davao City government, civil society, and the public in general to take stronger measures to ensure the city’s readiness for heavy rainfall and other weather-related emergencies — especially with Typhoon Uwan now approaching.

MAP coordinator Mayet Valdez said the name of the incoming storm itself should serve as a reminder of what’s at stake. “‘Uwan’ is the Visayan word for ‘ulan,’ but this one is not just ordinary rain,” she said.

“Weather agencies warn that Typhoon Uwan is larger and possibly stronger than Tino. And while it’s projected to make landfall in Northern Luzon, its sheer size means Southern Mindanao — including Davao City — could still experience heavy rains and strong winds. We must not be complacent.”

Valdez also noted that the recent findings of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) serve as a wake-up call. The ICI reported that several sections of Davao City’s newly built flood control structures have already sustained damage just months after completion, raising concerns about quality control and long-term resilience.

“Davaoeños take pride in their city and are known for their loyalty to their leaders,” Valdez added. “But this is not about politics — it’s about preparedness and making sure everyone is safe. Davao City has experienced its share of flooding in the past, including a deadly one in 2011, so we cannot afford to be complacent. We have to act now — before the rains arrive.”

She emphasized that while Davao City has long been recognized for its discipline and good governance, disasters respect no boundaries. “Even if Uwan is expected to hit the north, its reach could still affect us here in the south,” she said. “The safety of our people depends on constant review, maintenance, and accountability in infrastructure and disaster response.”

MAP’s call extends not only to government officials but also to engineers, civic organizations, and ordinary citizens — urging everyone to work together in reassessing flood-prone areas, ensuring the integrity of flood control systems, and preparing evacuation centers and emergency protocols before Uwan’s expected landfall. The group also encouraged residents to stay informed, report early signs of infrastructure damage, and follow advisories closely.

“Our goal is simple,” Valdez concluded. “We want a Davao City that is not only proud and peaceful, but also prepared and protected — no matter how strong the storm or how far its reach.”

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Community

Matina Gravahan Dike Damaged; Funding delayed, landowner demand 3 million

by Contributor
written by Contributor

More than a year after a portion of the Matina Gravahan flood control dike was destroyed by raging waters, no repair has been undertaken as funding remains pending and a dispute between the contractor and a landowner has yet to be settled.

The dike, completed in February 2023, was initially welcomed by residents who for decades had grown accustomed to flooding whenever heavy rains or typhoons hit. For the first time, they experienced relief as the dike shielded their homes from overflowing waters.

But in February 2024, just a year after completion, a large troso (log) carried by floodwaters slammed into the structure, breaching a portion of its concrete wall. Since then, parts of the barangay have once again been exposed to flooding, with residents saying the destruction of even a small section has rendered the protective barrier ineffective.

“Nadombol diha nga parte mao nangaliki. Last year sunod-sunod baha, dagko kaayo troso diri paingon nga part mao wala nakaya, nibigay,” said Roberto Pandi, a long-time resident.

Another resident, Paolo Bilocura, recalled how the collapse came so soon after the project was completed. “Paghuman ani nga project kumpleto na, pila ka bulan naabtan baha mao naguba.”

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Davao City District Office promptly submitted a request for emergency funds to repair the damaged portion. However, as of September 2025, the request remains unapproved, sparking criticism over bureaucratic inaction in the face of a clear safety risk.

Complicating matters further, a nearby property owner is demanding more than ₱3 million from the contractor that built the dike, claiming their land was used during construction but has never been paid for. The landowner has since filed a case before the Ombudsman against the DPWH, citing negligence in addressing both the unpaid obligation and the failure to initiate repairs.

A caretaker of the property, who declined to be named, criticized the contractor’s unfulfilled promises. “Walay klaro tong contractor. Kasabot ana sila bayaran daw mga nadamage nga property tungod sa ilang pag-construct pero wala namalik. Mao to nasuko si mam, wala na sila paagia diri kay i-repair unta.”

DPWH 11 spokesperson Dean Ortiz acknowledged the conflict and said the regional office would step in. “We will intervene and negotiate with both the landowner and the contractor on how to expedite the repair of the damaged dike,” Ortiz assured, noting that resolving the issue is crucial to moving forward.

Residents, however, remain dismayed that what was once hailed as a long-awaited solution to decades of flooding has already failed them. “For a year, wala na mi gi-baha. Pero karon balik napud mi sa kahadlok sa una,” one community member said.

Observers are now pressing DPWH not only to facilitate a settlement but also to hold the contractor accountable, as the structure sustained major damage barely a year after completion. Local officials are likewise urged to lobby for the immediate release of emergency funds before the next typhoon season worsens the situation.

For thousands living in Matina Gravahan, the dike was supposed to be their shield against floods. Today, that shield remains broken—its promise of safety washed away not only by a storm, but also by the disputes and delays that followed. PR

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Opinion

ROUGH CUTS | Expanding grounds of Senate probe

by Vic Sumalinog
written by Vic Sumalinog

IN WITNESSING through television coverage the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee investigation into the highly anomalous and graft-ridden flood control projects, we noticed some developing scenarios. These tell the Filipinos there is more to come out other than unmasking the erring contractors and certain officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

For example, during the recent Senate hearing, Davaoeño Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa questioned the controversial contractor firm owner Sara Discaya when her firms started dealing with the DPWH on flood control projects. Ms. Discaya’s answer was “since 2016.”

Earlier in the same hearing, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada asked Ms. Discaya when she started buying luxury vehicles that are now part of her family’s fleet of luxurious cars. Discaya’s answer was “as early as 2018 or 2019” with a number purchased starting in 2022.

Also very noticeable is the intriguing silence of Sen. Mark Villar. He was the DPWH secretary from 2016 until his run for the Senate in 2022.

Then came this report yesterday, again as an offshoot of the ongoing Senate probe. According to the report, a firm owned by the Discayas has entered into a partnership with a Davao City-based contractor company for the construction of flood prevention projects worth over P860 million in Davao City.

With this initial probe outcome, what will the more discerning Filipinos read in unwritten messages that may have been delivered by these developing probe scenarios?

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So, the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) leadership is confident it can continue maintaining the accolade of the City as one of the safest in Southeast Asia?

With what DCPO Director Col. Annan Muarip is doing, encouraging the people in the community to engage themselves in peacekeeping activities, we totally agree with him. That is, the local police could sustain the image that for some years already, Davao had such a reputation.

And then the DCPO Director has followed the footsteps of former police Chief, then Col. Michael John Dubria, in building a solid police relationship with the people in the city’s various communities. Dubria went on to become the number 3 man in the police organization with the rank of Lt. General. He is now retired but still works in a police-connected agency.

Besides, Colonel Muarip appears to have gotten the trust and confidence of Davao City Acting Mayor Baste Duterte. With the mayor’s support, Muarip can be certain of his success in retaining for the city the honor of being top among the safest in the Southeast Asian region.  

On this endeavor, the DCPO director deserves every Davaoeño’s support.

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Sen. Panfilo Lacson raised in the Senate the question of the absorptive capacity of the first district of Davao City for flood control projects that were provided funds amounting to P51 billion.

According to the senator, he has no way of imagining how a single district can have so much need for flood control infrastructures when the need may not be that much.

Well, the senator may have ordered his people to scour the whole of Davao City’s first district because, based on his statement in the Senate, he appears certain that the district may not have that much need for flood control projects.

Indeed, the former Police National director-turned senator had commissioned his people to study the terrain of the first district; chances are, he could be correct in his question about where the projects could have been implemented.

After all, there are only three major waterways in District 1. And these are the Davao River, which exits in Bucana; the Pangi River with exit in Matina Aplaya; and the Talomo River that emanates from somewhere up in Baguio district down to Calinan, then to Los Amigos, to Tugbok, and finally exiting in Barangay Talomo in the first district.

There are also some low-lying areas in the first district that are sometimes inundated with flood waters when strong rains in the upstream fall for a long time.

Probably these are the reasons why Lacson questioned the absorptive capacity of Davao City’s first district.

We wonder if the Senator will push for the inclusion of the flood control projects in the city’s first district in the ongoing Senate investigation on that burning issue.

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Opinion

ROUGH CUTS |  Why mothball a flood control master plan?

by Vic Sumalinog
written by Vic Sumalinog

SO, THE City Treasurer’s Office of Davao is considering the request of some business sectors to amend the Liquor Ban Ordinance?

Well, that is a wise decision. The amendment could benefit both the city and those who are in nightlife businesses like bars and restaurants.

The city could earn more in terms of sales taxes, and the businessmen in terms of additional income that may be derived from liquor sales during the additional allowable hours.

Our take on the issue is that those tasked to amend the ordinance – the Davao City Council members – must see to it that the safety and security of the public must be a primordial consideration.

After all, it cannot be denied that the longer the time drinkers are allowed to indulge in their vice, the bigger the chances of their getting intoxicated; and the more they are drunk, the chances are their rationality is affected.

And it is worth reminding the general public that, historically, crimes have been committed by people whose sanity is altered by the effects of drunkenness.

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According to Vice President Sara Duterte, who was mayor of Davao City for two terms, a flood control project master plan in the city has already been in place. But she added that it has been “mothballed” because of a lack of funding from the national government.

When was the master plan approved and adopted?  Was it during her term as mayor, that of her brother Baste, or during the first three years of Marcos Jr.’s administration?

We believe questions like these should be given answers so that Davaoenos can very well pinpoint whose responsibility the current status of flood prevention projects is attributed to.

Say, if the master plan was adopted during her administration as mayor and one of the projects is that which secures the banks of Davao River from somewhere upstream of the Maa Diversion bridge down to Bucana at Times Beach area, then it can be assumed that money was oozing from the national government as the President during that time was our very own former mayor Rody Duterte.

But if the master plan was adopted between July 2022 to the present, then the possibility is that it has been overtaken by the onset of the political enmity between the Vice President and her erstwhile running mate, Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.

And there is no doubt that delays or non-implementation of flood control projects in the city (if there is any) can be conveniently attributed to a lack of financial support from the national government.

But is it reason enough to mothball the flood control project master plan?  Our take is that the master plan can be temporarily archived and be retrieved for use when the time comes that the Malacanang tenant is no longer the one having political differences with the former President and current vice president.

How much more if another Davaoeño will take over the reins of the national government, the most potential of whom is the VP?

Besides, mothballing the flood control projects master plan is definitely a waste of the city’s money. And there is no doubt that the crafting of that master plan definitely entailed a huge amount of money.

If the city is to come up with a new one, that will again cost another huge expense for the local government.

But if the supposed earlier adopted master plan is merely archived, it can be retrieved when the appropriate time comes. And if some amendments are to be made due to the rapid physical development of the city, then for certain, it may no longer cost the local government as much as designing a new one.

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Indeed, the City of Davao is blessed with so many financial resources. Already, there is assurance of gratuity pay for city government personnel hired under a Job Order and a Contractual basis. The amount of P153.23 million is allocated from the first Supplemental budget of 2025, amounting to P960.8 million to fund the gratuity requirement.

Davaoeños, too, have no reason to doubt that the huge supplemental budget would be used for purposes other than gratuities and enhancing the operations of the various offices of the city government.

After all, the next local election is still some three years away.

Or so the Davaoeños hope.   

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