Inspecting the flood-ravaged community, Dizon described the situation as "nakakagalit," recalling that the same neighborhood had already been devastated by flooding in 2019.
He questioned why another major flood occurred despite the lessons from the previous disaster, saying both the DPWH and the local government should have ensured that long-term measures were in place to prevent a repeat.
According to Dizon, all major rivers should undergo annual dredging. He directed the DPWH to immediately undertake dredging and desilting operations along the Talomo River and ordered the reconstruction of the existing flood control dike by raising it at least two meters and extending it to the river's outlet toward the Davao Gulf.
The DPWH chief also ordered an investigation into the recurring flooding, saying he wanted to determine what happened despite the substantial amount of public funds allocated for flood control over the years.
However, official DPWH records show that the Talomo River had been the site of numerous flood control and riverbank protection projects since 2018.
Government records indicate that more than ₱690 million worth of completed flood mitigation projects have been implemented along various sections of the river.
The projects include a ₱65-million modified flood mitigation structure in 2018, followed by six major flood control contracts awarded in 2021 covering the NHA Bangkal area, Teacher's Village, and several upstream and downstream sections of the Talomo River worth more than ₱487 million.
In 2024, the DPWH also completed flood mitigation works downstream of the Puan Bypass Bridge incorporating reinforced concrete walls, steel sheet piles, and channel improvement works.
Earlier this year, the department completed an ₱86.51-million, 1,081.3-lineal-meter concrete revetment wall in the Balite Section of Barangay Calinan, while another ₱50-million revetment project was implemented in the Los Amigos section.
Records also show that several additional Talomo River projects proposed for 2025 were later cancelled or failed during procurement and were not implemented.
The documented projects present a different picture from the impression that little or no flood mitigation work had been undertaken along the river, although Dizon maintained that the absence of regular dredging over the past decade contributed significantly to the recent flooding.
The DPWH secretary's investigation is expected to determine whether the recurring floods resulted from inadequate maintenance dredging, the effectiveness and coverage of existing flood-control structures, watershed conditions, or other contributing factors.
Paolo Duterte: 'Naa mismo sa inyong opisina ang tubag.'
Reacting to Dizon's inspection, Davao City First District Rep. Paolo Duterte agreed with the DPWH chief's frustration but said the department must also examine its own records and explain why long-term flood control plans were not fully pursued.
Demographics
"Tama ka, Vince Dizon. Nakakagalit talaga."
"Nakakagalit nga ang mga taga-Talomo had to endure another devastating flood seven years after 2019. Nakakagalit nga despite the existence of the JICA Davao Flood Control Master Plan submitted to the national government as early as 2023, it remained unacted upon."
Duterte pointed out that Dizon himself admitted he had only recently learned about the JICA master plan and that funding would only be proposed under the 2027 General Appropriations Act.
"So ang tanong, asa man diay ang plano sa tulo ka tuig? Natulog? O gipatulog?"
The congressman said Dizon's question on why nothing substantial happened after 2019 was valid, but argued that the answers could be found within the DPWH itself.
"You asked why nothing substantial was done after 2019. That's a fair question. But the answer is not outside the DPWH. Naa mismo sa inyong opisina."
"Naa diha ang libro sa DPWH, ayaw ibutang sa kilid ug patulga. The records will tell you everything—who prepared the projects, who approved them, who failed to fund them, and who allowed a completed master plan to gather dust while Dabawenyos continued living in danger."
Duterte challenged the department to go beyond expressions of outrage.
"Kung tinuod nga nakakagalit, then don't stop at expressing anger. Open the books. Name names. File cases."
He also stressed that flood control cannot be reduced to dredging alone.