The Marcos administration’s move to investigate Davao City’s flood control projects has drawn sharp criticism and political speculation. Davao, known for its strong disaster management and minimal flooding, seems an unlikely target for an audit — sparking questions about the true motive behind the probe.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) reportedly began reviewing multimillion-peso flood control projects in Davao City. But many Filipinos wonder: why focus on a city that rarely floods, while other regions with more urgent problems remain unchecked?
Political analysts believe this could be more than just a transparency measure. With Davao being the home turf of the Duterte family — long-time political rivals of the Marcoses — critics claim the audit may be part of a calculated political move to weaken the Dutertes’ hold on Mindanao.
Adding fuel to the controversy, Senator Rodante Marcoleta openly questioned during a recent Senate hearing why the administration has not ordered similar investigations in Leyte, the home province of House Speaker Martin Romualdez, or in Ilocos Norte, the bailiwick of President Bongbong Marcos.
> “If transparency is the goal, why start in Davao — where there is no flooding — and not in Leyte, where several flood control projects have long been delayed?” Marcoleta reportedly asked.
The senator’s remarks echoed the sentiments of many Filipinos who see the move as selective accountability. Reports of unimplemented or questionable flood control projects in Leyte and Ilocos have circulated in previous years, yet no formal audit or probe has been initiated.
Supporters of the Duterte family believe this is a politically motivated act, meant to tarnish their name ahead of future elections. Meanwhile, Malacañang officials defend the audit as part of standard government procedure, insisting that all public projects will eventually undergo review.
As the debate intensifies, the Davao investigation has become a flashpoint for deeper political tensions between two of the most powerful families in modern Philippine politics. Whether this is about good governance or a brewing political war remains to be seen.
