The Department of Public Works and Highways in Davao Region (DPWH-11) vowed to intervene in a dispute between a contractor and a landowner that has stalled the repair of the damaged Matina Gravahan flood control dike for over a year.
In a statement Thursday, DPWH-11 spokesperson Dean Ortiz acknowledged the long-running conflict, which has left portions of the barangay vulnerable to flooding since the dike was breached in February 2024.
“We will intervene and negotiate with both the landowner and the contractor to expedite the repair of the damaged dike,” Ortiz said.
The flood control project began in 2021 and was completed in 2023, but was severely damaged months later by heavy rains. Since then, no rehabilitation work has been carried out due to an unsettled land rental issue and unapproved emergency funding.
The landowner, who asked not to be identified, claimed they have yet to receive ₱3.6 million in rental fees for the use of their 13-square-meter property during the project’s construction. They confirmed filing a case with the Office of the Ombudsman to pursue their claim.
Meanwhile, the DPWH Davao City District Office said it promptly submitted a request for emergency repair funds, but as of September 2025, the request remains unacted upon.
Local officials have since urged national agencies to release the funds immediately before the onset of another typhoon season.