THE MASTER plan for flood control and a modern drainage system was already in place but had to be mothballed due to lack of funding from the national government.
In an interview with the media at The Hague on Aug. 28, 2025, Vice President Sara Duterte said the detailed plan was created to address the city’s persistent flooding problems.
The study was conducted during the administration of her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, and was part of a larger infrastructure modernization plan for the city.
“We took on international experts to help us with this plan,” Vice President Duterte said.
“The problem is, as I’ve said before, the national government, through the DPWH, has shown no interest in funding it and giving us the budget to implement it.
“She added that while she and her team are not engineers, they brought in consultants and experts to create a comprehensive strategy for flood control.
According to Duterte, the plan outlines specific projects needed to manage flooding and improve the drainage system.
The vice president lamented the lack of funding, stating, “It is there, our plan is there, but there is no interest from the government.”
She implied that despite the existing blueprint for a safer Davao, the projects cannot proceed without financial support from the national level.
Meanwhile, Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte on Thursday fired back at Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. over the latter’s challenge to Acting Mayor Sebastian Duterte regarding flood control projects in the city.
“On Benny Abante’s challenge to Mayor Baste Duterte regarding the flood control projects in Davao City, let me be clear, all projects allocated to my district are properly implemented and completed.
The congressman also directed the DPWH district and regional offices to provide Abante with the official data and amounts.
“Besides,do not mind the floods in Davao, I can guarantee everybody that every peso allocated was implemented,” he said, insisting that Davao City has no flood projects.
Duterte also took aim at Abante who did not even win the people’s mandate and only retook his seat when the winning candidate was disqualified.
“Instead of questioning the development projects that benefit the people of Davao, perhaps you should start answering for your own questionable position in Congress,” he added.
