Metro Manila, Philippines – Malacañang denied Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte’s claim that the city received “zero budget” from the national government over the past four years, saying official records show billions of pesos for projects and services in the city.
During a Palace briefing on Monday, May 25, Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro cited budget data that showed Davao City received at least P7.856 billion in national government support from 2023 to 2026.
“So, hindi po totoo na walang budget or zero ang budget ang Davao City,” Castro said.
[Translation: So it is not true that Davao City had no budget or a zero budget.]
“Ang Davao City po ay isa sa mga siyudad at areas na talagang inaalagaan ng administrasyon at ng Pangulong Marcos Jr.,” she added.
[Translation: Davao City is one of the cities and areas that the administration and President Marcos Jr. continue to take care of.]
Castro said the allocations included funding for farm-to-market roads, health facilities, civil defense and justice infrastructure, basic education facilities, public transport modernization, and other local government support programs.
Duterte defended flood control projects in the city and accused critics of selectively targeting the Duterte family while ignoring corruption controversies linked to the Marcos administration.
“For the information of the public, Davao City has had a zero budget for four years now,” Duterte said in a statement on Facebook.
The Davao lawmaker also defended infrastructure projects implemented in the city from 2020 to 2022, citing around ₱49.84 billion in roads, bridges, drainage systems, and other public works.
He accused ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio of using flooding issues for political attacks against the Duterte family.
“Flooding is a national problem requiring serious engineering, long-term planning, and cooperation among agencies – not grandstanding before cameras,” Duterte said.
Castro, however, questioned persistent flooding in Davao City despite the billions supposedly spent for flood control projects.
“Sabi po niya, umamin naman po siya na nagkaroon ng ₱51 billion na inilaan para sa Davao City para sa flood control projects, pero bakit nga ba bumabaha pa rin sa Davao City?” Castro said.
[Translation: He himself admitted that ₱51 billion was allocated for flood control projects in Davao City, so why does flooding still persist there?]
