Tag:

dpwh xi

NBI to look into alleged anomalous or ghost flood control projects in Davao Region

by Rhoda Grace Saron September 24, 2025

written by Rhoda Grace Saron

The DPWH XI photo shows a flood control project on the downstream section of the Lasang River

THE NATIONAL Bureau of Investigation Public Corruption Division will launch a probe into possible anomalies and ghost flood control projects in Davao Region.

Atty. Arcelito Albao, the NBI-SEMRO director, confirmed on Wednesday that the regional office will act as a support unit for the NBI Manila’s Public Corruption Division, which is leading the investigation.

“NBI Manila’s Public Corruption Division is investigating this matter. We at the regional offices are only support,” Albao said in a message to TIMES.

When asked if the investigation will cover projects dating back to 2016 and if a team from Manila is already in Davao, Albao stated, “We are just about to start. We don’t know yet.”

He also did not specify which particular areas would be investigated.

When asked specifically about the flood control projects of 1st District Representative Paolo Duterte, Albao said, “We don’t know yet. I will update you.”

“We will ask the NBI Manila,” he added.

Meanwhile, Captain Hazel Tuazon, spokesperson for the Davao City Police Office (DCPO), said during the Davao Peace and Security press briefing held at The Royal Mandaya Hotel that she has no personal knowledge about any looming investigation.

Nevertheless, she promised to ask station commanders if the NBI had already coordinated with their offices for the investigation.

The announcement comes as the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee continues its investigation into substandard and “ghost” flood control projects nationwide. Malacañang has also formed an independent commission to build cases for prosecution.

Rep. Duterte denies ghost projects

In a recent statement, Congressman Paolo “Pulong” Duterte denied the existence of “ghost projects” in his district, stressing that the funds went to visible, functioning infrastructure.

“If you really want to look for ghost projects under that ₱51 billion, go ahead, investigate it all,” he said. “Show the records, look at the ground. The truth is there—projects that can be seen, built, and used by the people of Davao.”

He challenged investigators to find the evidence, stating, “We Davaoeños are taxpayers too… If these are really ghost projects, let’s show them to the public. That’s our money.”

Duterte demanded that investigators “show all the budget, release all the projects,” and not just hide them on paper. “Show us in the district if there’s a real road, a bridge, a canal, a hospital, or if they were just drawings,” he said.

The DPWH City Engineering Office revealed that the actual budget for Davao City’s flood control and other infrastructure projects from 2020 to 2022 was over ₱49 billion, not the previously cited ₱51 billion.

September 24, 2025 0 comments

Opinion

ROUGH CUTS | Tek’s proposed re-greening measure

by Vic Sumalinog August 26, 2025

written by Vic Sumalinog

IN OUR column yesterday, we said we are not aware of flood control projects in the third congressional district of Davao City.

But yesterday afternoon, we were proven wrong after we saw the news broadcast of the local station of GMA 7. The station’s news crew visited a flood control project, ironically only about 12 kilometers from where we are presently residing.

The project is on a sector of the Talomo River located in Los Amigos, Tugbok District. And the flood control project was destroyed by a recent flood that rampaged through that body of fresh water that empties somewhere in a beach in Barangay Talomo in the first district.

In explaining to the media why the project was destroyed, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) spokesman Dean Ortiz said the damaged portion was hit by huge debris carried by the flood.

The reason is kind of logical because gigantic debris like tree trunks, or even stone boulders hitting vulnerable – or call it poorly constructed portion – will surely destroy that particular segment of the project.

Spokesman Ortiz immediately added that repair or restoration work on the damaged portion is about to start.

Maybe it is about time that our lawmakers will come up with “innovative” projects to prevent flood control infrastructures from breaking or collapsing when hit by huge debris.

Yes, why don’t they start proposing “flood debris control” projects on top of the usual poor quality flood prevention projects?

If they succeed in legislating such projects they will surely have more sources of “income.” And they, too, can further help increase the number of greedy contractors and government officials amass fortunes out of the taxes paid by the people.

*********************************

The DPWH XI has announced that the Bucana Bridge, an important component of the Davao City Coastal Road, is opening very soon.

According to the agency the bridge project is a little more than 94 percent complete. This means the Davaoeños could safely assume that in a matter of months, the Bucana Bridge will be passable.

Indeed, this is a very welcome development. In fact, the accomplishment could possibly help a little in shielding the agency from the very bad review it is getting lately because of the corruption-laden flood prevention projects all over the country.

But what about the status of the phase of the Coastal Road project that runs from Bucana passing through the Piapi shorelines then to the Sta. Ana wharf up to Sasa? What is the percentage of its completion?

It is our take that once the entire length of the Coastal Road project is finished it will be a huge relief from the burgeoning vehicular traffic.

What more if the JICA-funded bypass road that traverses from Bunawan to Buhangin to Tigarto, then below the mountains of Magtuod to Tacunan then to Sirawan in Toril, will be completed and opened to vehicular traffic?

Davoreños will surely witness a downtown Davao City bereft of time-consuming traffic with toxic air to boot.

And if the issue of road-right-of-way now supposedly hindering the flyover projects in Ma-a Diversion Road junction and that of the Diversion Road-Davao Bukidnon Highway in Ulas will be settled and the work on the two projects proceeds, then the city’s travelling population could only imagine the ease of their travels.

****************************

Councilor Tek Ocampo is contemplating introducing an ordinance that will institutionalize a greenhouse program in the city.

The ordinance, if it gets approved and implemented, will fund the propagation of forest trees to replenish the city’s balding highlands. The proposed measure will also mandate an urban greening program.

Our take on this proposed ordinance is that it must clearly define the role of the community in its implementation, specifically on the aspect of reforestation of the denuded mountains.

If the councilor will not take it against us, we would make certain recommendations to ensure the active participation of the people in the target areas.

We suggest that in the reforestation phase in the highlands, occupants or residents in the areas could be compensated for the work they need to do while ensuring the growth of the seedlings.

We would suggest to Councilor Tek to pass by the road from Magtuod to New Carmen. He’d surely see the big narra, Indian, tugas, and mahogany trees along one side of the road. Not only they provide shade and strengthen the soil on that side of the road, the trees also serve as a bio-fence that prevents erosion and vehicles from falling directly into the deep ravine should accidents occur.

The planting of those trees was a project of our former employer Davao Light and Power Co., and the trees are now 14 years old.

And how did the company ensure that the seedlings were protected and eventually grow to maturity? The company had set aside funds to pay identified residents to take care of the seedlings. The payment is pegged at a certain amount per surviving seedling monitored every six months for three years since planting.

The scheme may need some innovation when the reforestation project will be done in the city’s highlands. And Tek’s measure must include in its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) policies that the engaged community residents must adhere to if they want to be successful as stewards of the re-greening project.

What about that Councilor Tek?

August 26, 2025 0 comments

Uncategorized

Telcos, Davao Light summoned to explain delay of Ma-a Flyover Project

by Nova Mae Francas August 13, 2025

written by Nova Mae Francas

LAWMAKERS on Tuesday agreed to invite the Davao Light and Power Company and telecommunications companies to the 7th regular session next Tuesday, Aug. 19, to explain the delay of pole relocations in the Ma-a Flyover Project.

Councilor Diosdado Angelo Mahipus moved to pass a resolution inviting resource persons from the utility providers to answer concerns on the relocation of poles affected by road widening.

“Though I intend to pass a resolution to urge Davao Light to remove poles, may I request their presence on the next session day so that we can hear from them the pros and cons of moving ahead with the transfer at the soonest possible time and perhaps get a commitment from them to immediately relocate it,” Mahipus said.

The motion was formalized during the deliberation of the city council on the project components and delays with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) XI on the City Council’s 6th regular session on Tuesday, Aug. 12.

DPWH XI spokesperson Dean Ortiz said that road-right-of-way issues and the relocation of the utility poles are contributing factors to the delay. Ortiz said 29 out of 41 properties are already settled, while the remaining 12 are in the settlement stage.

Of the 29, two properties were acquired in 2023, 16 in 2024, and 11 in 2025. Of the 12 remaining, four properties are being prioritized, including two major real estate companies, one gas station, and one private individual.

Atty. Alpha Faith Macailing of the DPWH reported that one landowner has already agreed to meet to provide the loan computation for processing. The acquisition of the property is already fully funded by the DPWH, she added.

“Yun ang pinaka-urgent na dapat nating i-acquire para maka-proceed yung approach ng flyover,” Macailing said.

In terms of the utility poles relocation, Macailing said the DLPC has communicated with the utility providers. For instance, she added that the DLPC has committed to completing the relocation in four months.

Mahipus moved to pass a resolution urging the DLPC to relocate the poles earlier than the committed period to give way for DPWH to expand the road.

Asked about the timeline of the flyover completion, assuming the DLPC will move the poles, Ortiz said, under favorable conditions, the flyover will be passable by December this year, and remaining RROW and obstructions are cleared, the project will be fully completed by March 2026.

“We have already acquired these properties in Monteritz; all the DLPC and Telcos need to do is to relocate the poles outside our construction limits so we can start the concreting,” Ortiz said.

August 13, 2025 0 comments

Opinion

ROUGH CUTS | The billboard attack

by Vic Sumalinog August 4, 2025

written by Vic Sumalinog

THE DEPARTMENT of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region XI was quick in refuting allegations inscribed on a billboard citing causes of the delay in the completion of the flyover project at Crossing Maa-C.P. Garcia Diversion Highway and Magtuod Road.

In the billboard, the major claim is that the release of the project’s budget has been withheld by the national government after the Dutertes started their political disagreement with President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. and his administration.

Another allegation cited thereat is the supposed failure of DPWH XI to settle road-right of way issues. But according to the agency, the budget for the flyover has already been released. In fact the completion rate is already at 82 percent plus, adds the government infrastructure agency.

The DPWH, however, admitted that there are still remaining properties, which are already being worked out or nearing resolution.

Another factor causing the delay, the DPWH said, is the facilities of utility companies like electric poles and telecommunication line and posts that have yet to be transferred. But the DPWH said these last two bars in the continuation of the flyover construction was the subject of a coordination meeting among the DPWH, the power distribution firm, and the telecommunication companies.

As to the land sought to be acquired for the project, the negotiations have been hindered by the properties’ status. Most are used as collateral for bank loans by the owners.

Indeed, only the extremely partisan Davaoeños will not believe the explanation of the DPWH. The only thing that the agency did not anticipate is that the delay was seen by the anti-administration as one major armament they could use to heat up their fight against the President and his people.

And think of it. The DPWH should have been proactive. It should not have waited for the anti-administration to put up billboards showing what the latter believed as the reasons for their suspicion for the delay, or perhaps the stop of the project construction.

Had the DPWH come up of its explanation much earlier it could have negated the negative effect of the billboard munition.

Unfortunately, some officials at the DPWH XI appeared to have been sleeping on their job. Or possibly, do not know their role in preventing the “enemy” from taking advantage of the agency’s “weakness.”

Now we are again reminded of this “white elephant” of a bridge project spanning the creek that serves as the boundary of barangays Catalunan Grande and Tacunan in the city’s first and third districts, respectively.

The concrete bridge, about 15 meters long, has no approach at its Tasunan end. Its Catalunan end has its approach but it is not yet connected to the barangay road leading to Catalunan Grande.

We had been calling the attention of the DPWH and the City Engineer’s Office (CEI) believing that the bridge could either be a national government project or that of the local government of Davao City. The bridge itself has long been completed. As far as we could remember, the construction was finished while the country was still towards the end of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Now the bridge has instead become the favorite resting place of goats after each day’s roaming the nearby pasture.

Meanwhile, neither the DPWH nor the CEO has come up with a statement on the unused bridge as to why it has no approach at the Tacunan end and the approach leading to barangay Catalunan Grande has not been connected to the barangay road.

We are again tinkering with the idea that both the DPWH and the CEO would still be using the right-of-way issue as a reason for the non-utilization of the long-finished concrete span.

As far as this particular infrastructure project, we cannot help but be reminded of the song “Bridge Over Troubled Water.” Only this time it is the reverse. It is now “Troubled Bridge Over Calm Water.”

We are just wondering if there will be people or groups who will dare come up with placards with insinuations of the reasons for the long-finished bridge.

And by the way, the project was implemented during the time of former President Rodrigo Duterte whose rabid followers are the likely promoters of the billboard ammo against the Maa-CP Garcia-Magtuod still-unfinished flyover project.

Honestly, though, those who did it did the right thing. The DPWH could not have been jolted into realizing that it is closely monitored by the people.

And the agency must heed the message of what is mentioned in the billboard. Otherwise, its top officials will eventually prove the charges true.

August 4, 2025 0 comments

News

Chinese contractor finishes final concrete pouring for Bucana Bridge

by Nova Mae Francas July 20, 2025

written by Nova Mae Francas

THE BUCANA Bridge Project completed the final concrete pouring on the bridge deck slab, linking the entire bridge structure from Piers 1-5, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) reported.

The ceremonial final concrete pouring activity took place on Friday, July 18, at the segment between Piers 2 and 3, connecting Piers 1-5, marking the completion of the project’s major structural components.

The China Aid Localized Project, or known as the Bucana Bridge, is a key component of the Davao City Coastal Road Network, designed to improve traffic flow and enhance connectivity across the Davao River.

Bucana Bridge features a four-lane, six-span extradosed bridge stretching 480.20 meters across the Davao River, with a total project length of 1,340 meters when including the approach roads.

Senior Undersecretary Emil K. Sadain, in charge of the DPWH flagship infrastructure project, said the project is on track for completion by October 2025.

“This final concrete pour marks a key moment — the physical structure of the bridge is nearly complete. We are looking forward to turning over the fully completed bridge to the public by the last quarter of this year,” Sadain said in a report.

Meanwhile, the installation of stay cables for all piers was completed earlier last June 26.

For the following months, final works including pavement finishing, curing, lighting installation, pedestrian railings, and safety features will continue.

The bridge, once completed, will link barangays 76-A, Bucana, and Matina Aplaya, providing a more efficient route for motorists and commuters and easing the traffic congestion in downtown.

July 20, 2025 0 comments

Business Environment News

Environmental group welcomes SC’s writ of kalikasan in Samal-Davao bridge case

by Nova Mae Francas July 2, 2025

written by Nova Mae Francas

THE SUPREME Court’s writ of kalikasan ruling affirmed that the public has a right to a balanced and healthy ecology, environmental advocates said Tuesday as they welcomed the decision on the Samal Island-Davao Connectivity (SIDC) project.

The SC En Banc, during its session on July 1, issued a writ of kalikasan against the respondents: Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Samal Island Protected Landscape and Seascape Protected Area Management Board, and the China Road and Bridge Corporation.

This follows a petition filed by environmental advocates Carmela Marie Santos, Mark Peñalver, and the Sustainable Davao Movement (SDM), after years of advocating against the project.

The petitioners filed the petition on April 21, raising grave concerns over the irreversible damage that the SIDC could inflict on vital marine ecosystems, particularly the Paradise Reef in Samal Island and the Hizon Marine Protected Area in Davao City.

They maintained that the sites are not only ecologically rich, but are part of the natural heritage and identity of Davaoeños and the people of Mindanao.

“The Court’s issuance of the writ sends a strong signal: no development, no matter how grand or well-funded, is above the law—especially when it threatens the environment and the lives and livelihoods of communities,” APILA, Green Juris, and Ecoteneo in a collective statement.

The SC also required the respondents to file a verified return on the petition within a non-extendible period of 10 days after service of the writ. The high court also referred the ruling on the temporary environmental protection order to the Court of Appeals-Cagayan de Oro for action.

“This struggle is not merely environmental—it is spiritual, ethical, and profoundly human. It calls us to reject the “technocratic paradigm” that values profit over people and reduces nature to a disposable resource,” the group stressed.

To note, the Save Paradise Reef and the SDM have been campaigning for the bridge realignment since 2022, and launched a signature campaign.

Peñalver, in an earlier intervie,w said the group is not against development, but they push for the realignment that would cost less and have minimal impact on both the environment and the livelihood of the locals, especially the fisherfolk.

But despite the opposition, the construction of the bridge pushed through and was inaugurated in October 2022.

“We call on all government agencies and private entities involved to respect the process and prioritize environmental integrity over profit or expediency. Infrastructure must never come at the cost of environmental destruction and the disenfranchisement of communities,” it stressed.

As of June 27, DPWH reported the bridge project has achieved a 38% accomplishment rate, with 73 out of 110 bored piles completed on the Davao side of the land viaduct, and has completed all bored piles on the Samal side.

July 2, 2025 0 comments

Newer Posts

Older Posts