DAVAO CITY(January 14) — For residents of Barangay Buhangin, flooding has become an all-too-familiar ordeal — one they say has not eased despite the construction of flood control structures meant to protect their community.
This is now at the center of an investigation by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), which has recommended the filing of cases against 12 officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in the Davao Region over alleged irregularities in flood control projects.
“Ginabaha gihapon mi”
Among the projects flagged by investigators is a flood control structure inside La Verna Hills Subdivision in Barangay Buhangin, Davao City. The NBI said the structure was substandard and failed to meet required engineering specifications.
The area functions as a natural catch basin, making it especially vulnerable during intense rainfall — a problem residents say was never resolved.
“Ginabaha gihapon mi kada kusog ang ulan,” said a Buhangin resident, who asked not to be named. “Abi namo paghuman sa proyekto, dili na musulod ang tubig sa balay. Pero pareho ra gihapon.”
(“We still flood whenever the rain is heavy. We thought the project would stop water from entering our homes, but nothing changed.”)
Another resident said floodwaters often rise knee-deep within hours, forcing families to elevate appliances and keep children indoors. “Kung gabii ang ulan, dili gyud mi katulog kay magbantay mi sa tubig,” she said.
Questions over design, spending
In its findings, the NBI said several flood control projects in the region were either unfinished or built below standard, raising questions about compliance with technical plans and the proper use of public funds.
Personnel from both the DPWH regional office and the Davao City district engineering office are among those recommended for charges, although the bureau declined to name individuals or contractors.
Local disaster officials, speaking on background, said poorly designed flood control can worsen flooding by trapping water instead of directing it safely toward drainage outlets or waterways.
“Kung sayop ang elevation ug flow, mahimong problema mismo ang flood control,” one official said.
Part of a wider Davao pattern
The Buhangin project is not an isolated case. Earlier, eight DPWH officials were charged over a separate flood control project in Malita, Davao Occidental, and are now detained.
Urban planners note that Davao City has been experiencing more intense rainfall events in recent years, making properly designed and maintained flood infrastructure critical, especially in low-lying barangays.
“Flood control failures hit poor and working-class communities hardest,” said a local civil society advocate. “Kung palpak ang proyekto, ang residente ang mag-antos, dili ang opisina.”
Senate probe adds pressure
The controversy has also reached the Senate, where Senator Panfilo Lacson warned that arrest warrants could be issued against former DPWH officials and other personalities who continue to skip hearings on alleged corruption tied to flood control projects.
Lacson said even if some officials recant sworn statements, the investigation would continue, citing budget documents and other records allegedly linking personalities — including lawmakers — to anomalous projects.
For Buhangin residents, accountability cannot come soon enough.
“Dili na ni about politika para namo,” a resident said. “Kaluwasan ni sa among pamilya. Kada ulan, hadlok na dayon mi.”
(“This is no longer about politics for us. This is about our families’ safety. Every time it rains, we are already afraid.”)
