Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon is seeking an official investigation into personnel of the Davao City district engineering office for alleged negligence following a severe river wall collapse that triggered massive flooding over the weekend. The disaster submerged multiple riverside communities and displaced residents who were forced to seek shelter near ceilings as floodwaters rose.
Talomo River Wall Collapse and Flood Impact
Heavy rainfall caused the Talomo River to overflow, resulting in a structural failure of the river wall and subsequent flooding across the villages of Los Amigos, Talomo Proper, Bangkal, and Matina. According to Department of Public Works and Highways records, the overflow specifically impacted Central Park Subdivision, where the ancestral home of former president Rodrigo Duterte is located.
During an inspection along the Talomo River on Wednesday, July 29, Secretary Dizon expressed fury upon discovering that a gabion flood-control wall had been left unrepaired for seven years. The structure suffered damage during floodwaters in 2019, yet local offices failed to restore it. Dizon estimated that completing the repairs would have cost less than P100 million.
Did You Know? Records from the Department of Public Works and Highways showed that more than P690 million worth of flood-mitigation projects had been implemented in the Talomo River area since 2018.
Official Reprimands and Dredging Orders
Secretary Dizon directly blamed previous leaderships of both national and local Department of Public Works and Highways offices for the calamity. “Billions of pesos were poured into the DPWH office here, and yet this simple, inexpensive project was ignored,” Dizon said during his inspection, pointing out the severe risks residents faced as they climbed to their ceilings to escape the rising waters.
Aside from pursuing negligence investigations against district engineering office officials, Dizon ordered teams to repair existing gaps and cracks in the dike. He also issued an immediate directive to dredge the Talomo River after learning that the waterway had not been desilted in the past 10 years. According to Dizon, heavy siltation likely caused the river to swell significantly during the weekend downpour.
Accountability and Future Infrastructure Measures
Questioning the recurrence of flooding in the area, Dizon emphasized that both the Department of Public Works and Highways and the local government should have implemented long-term preventive measures to avoid a repeat of the 2019 flooding events. Moving forward, the agency indicates that all major rivers across the country must be dredged every year to mitigate overflow risks.
Frequently Asked Questions
What caused the severe flooding in Davao City?
Heavy rainfall caused the Talomo River to overflow after a river wall collapsed, submerging the villages of Los Amigos, Talomo Proper, Bangkal, and Matina.
Who is being investigated for negligence?
Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon wants personnel of the Davao City district engineering office investigated over the unaddressed structural failures.
How long had the damaged flood-control wall been left unrepaired?
According to inspection findings, the gabion flood-control wall remained unrepaired for seven years after sustaining damage from floodwaters in 2019.
What long-term flood prevention strategies should local and national agencies prioritize to protect vulnerable riverside communities in Davao City?
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