BACOLOD CITY – The city government will create short and long-term solutions to address flooding here.
Mayor Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez met the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRMO), and City Engineers Office (CEO), along with Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, on Tuesday, Oct. 4, to discuss the flood situation here.
A moderate rainfall on Monday, Oct. 3, flooded Hi-Strip, near SM City Bacolod in Barangay 12, Burgos-Hilado Streets, downtown area, Gonzaga Subdivision in Barangay Villamonte, Libertad Public Market, Central Market, Lacson-Hernaez Streets, Rosario-Mabini Streets, Gonzaga-Lopez Jaena Streets;
Luzuriaga-Gatuslao Streets, Gonzaga-Mabini Streets, Lopues East, Lupit River in Barangay 40, Mandalagan River (near Queen of Mercy Hospital) in Eroreco, Sta. Ana in Barangay 31, J.R. Torres and Magsaysay flyover in Barangay Singcang-Airport, Gatuslao-Hernaez Streets, Mabini-Libertad Streets, Hernaez Street, and Magsaysay-Lacson Streets.
Floodwater went up from 0.5 feet to two feet, which means that drainage systems could not carry the bulk of rainwater in almost an hour, causing flooding in these areas, according to the city government.
Proposals under the short-term plan include changing of the manhole cover into a steel grating type, declogging of drainage systems, increasing of water inlets, widening of catch basins opening, strict implementation of garbage disposal and collection in barangays, and informing the stakeholders about the situation.
For the long-term plan, the city government aims to put diversion channels where they can release the drainage in the area. Through this, the areas near SM City Bacolod and the downtown area will be relieved from flooding.
Benitez urged residents to be responsible in disposing their garbage to help ease the problem of flooding.