u/Ok_Cauliflower_755

I’ve been collecting data about Davao City infrastructure projects that unfunded or underfunded by the national government despite securing foreign loans. I will probably make a series out of this but for now, here’s a short list of 2026 proposed projects.

Below are Davao City related projects where I show what was proposed (NEP) and how it ended up by the time congress was done (GAA):

Davao City Bypass Construction Project I South and Center Sections Package I JICA Loan No. PH-P261

• NEP: 435,979,000
• GAA: 201,563,000
• Reduced by 54%

Davao City Bypass Construction Project II South and Center Sections Package I JICA Loan No. PH-P273

• NEP: 1,225,302,000
• GAA: 628,577,000
• Reduced by 49%

Davao City Bypass Construction Project III South and Center Sections Package I JICA Loan No. PH-P282

• NEP: 1,577,284,000
• GAA: 952,774,000
• Reduced by 40%

Samal Island-Davao City Connector CEXIM Loan GCL202200607

• NEP: 4,868,962,000
• GAA: 314,577,000
• Reduced by 94%

Remaining Segment of the Davao City Coastal Road Leading to R. Castillo Exit

• NEP: 150,000,000
• GAA: 0
• Reduced by 100%

Sources:

• DPWH Budget in 2026 NEP https://www.dbm.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/NEP2026/DPWH/DPWH.pdf
• DPWH Budget in 2026 GAA https://www.dbm.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/GAA/GAA2026/VolumeIB/DPWH/DPWH.pdf
• Coastal Road Funding News https://www.facebook.com/61569888218573/photos/additional-funding-for-the-davao-coastal-road-project-seems-to-also-falls-short-/122162400914662940/

This post is not meant absolve any government office/agency of anything.

I’ve been waiting for facts-based explanations as to why Davao City continues to face flooding during the rainy season, but it seems like I’m not hearing anything substantial from official sources. So here’s what I gathered from multiple sources instead. I’ll leave it up to the reader how you will use this information.

The Comprehensive Basin-Wide Solution Has Not Been Built:

The JICA-assisted Master Plan and Feasibility Study (completed July 2023) recommended integrated structural measures for Davao River (plus Matina/Talomo support): river widening, cut-off channels, retarding ponds, dredging, and drainage upgrades to reduce damage from 10-year return period floods. See https://openjicareport.jica.go.jp/pdf/12380796.pdf

As of 2026, the Priority Riverine Flood Project (~₱41.7 billion indicative cost, proposed for JICA ODA) remains in preparatory stages and was not included in the 2026 National Expenditure Program. Only smaller-scale or maintenance works have advanced.

Past Allocations Were Not a Dedicated Flood Control Package:

The often-cited ₱49.8–51.8 billion (2020–2022) for Davao City’s 1st Congressional District covered overall infrastructure (roads, bridges, coastal works, buildings, etc.), per DPWH and DBM records. Flood control and drainage made up only a fraction (hundreds of millions to low billions annually), funding localized revetments, dikes, and drainage—not the full JICA basin-wide program. See https://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/dpwh-davaos-498b-budget-not-solely-for-flood-control

Existing Works Are Incremental, Sometimes Fragmented or Compromised:

DPWH has completed smaller rehabilitation/revetment projects along Davao and Matina Rivers. However, official reviews and oversight have noted issues like incomplete sections, rapid damage (e.g., erosion/scouring shortly after completion), ROW constraints, and quality concerns in subsets of contracts. These limit overall system effectiveness.

Aggravating Non-Structural Factors:

Urbanization (reduced permeable surfaces), encroachment on river easements/floodplains, siltation, and waste clogging drains amplify impacts—factors explicitly analyzed in the JICA study as worsening baseline conditions. See Chapter 2 of the master plan linked above.

Bottom line:

Heavy rain (78% of May’s typical rainfall fell in one night) hit a system where the science-based, large-scale protections recommended in the 2023 Master Plan have not yet been implemented at full scale, while localized efforts provide only partial relief.

Credits: thanks to @curious_corgi91 for pointing me to some of the sources: https://www.reddit.com/r/davao/s/C4o4Qb5VpA

Try ko tong Davao-based craft brewery sa La Verna Bypass (Blackout Craft Beer) bukas (Friday) 5PM onwards. Mag solo flight ko but if anyone is interested, come and join me for some fun conversation and (hopefully) great beer!