DAVAO OCCIDENTAL – A flood-control project in the southern municipality of Jose Abad Santos has prompted broader discussion among residents about local development priorities and basic services.
Mayor Jason John Joyce, a lawyer serving his third term, has defended the initiative, saying it reflects efforts to protect communities vulnerable to seasonal flooding. The project has become a focal point of public debate, drawing both support and questions from local residents.
Community members point to other concerns that they say remain unaddressed. Among them are the absence of a municipal cemetery, which has led some families to rely on private property for burials, and the lack of a central public market, leaving vendors scattered across different areas.
Infrastructure planning and procurement have also been raised in community discussions, though no official review has been announced.
“The flood-control project is important, but people also want to see solutions to everyday needs,” one resident said. “Basic facilities like a cemetery and a marketplace matter to us just as much.”
Observers note that the debate has highlighted the challenge of balancing urgent infrastructure needs with long-term development planning in smaller municipalities.
While the flood project has dominated headlines locally, residents say it has also opened a broader conversation about priorities for the town’s growth and services.
Joyce’s office has not issued a statement beyond his earlier remarks in support of the flood-control initiative.
