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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Visayas devider Bacolod City, DOST OK flood monitoring system

Bacolod City, DOST OK flood monitoring system

Published Oct 28, 2025 09:27 pm
MAYOR Greg Gasataya (second from right) and Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Dr. Renato Solidum Jr. (second from left) sign an agreement for the establishment of a Community-Based Flood Early Warning System (CBFEWS) in Bacolod City during the opening of the Visayas leg of the Handa Pilipinas sa Bagong Pilipinas: Innovations in Climate and Disaster Resilience Nationwide Exposition 2025 at the SMX Convention Center on Monday, Oct. 27. (Glazyl Masculino)
MAYOR Greg Gasataya (second from right) and Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Dr. Renato Solidum Jr. (second from left) sign an agreement for the establishment of a Community-Based Flood Early Warning System (CBFEWS) in Bacolod City during the opening of the Visayas leg of the Handa Pilipinas sa Bagong Pilipinas: Innovations in Climate and Disaster Resilience Nationwide Exposition 2025 at the SMX Convention Center on Monday, Oct. 27. (Glazyl Masculino)
BACOLOD CITY – This city and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) have established a Community-Based Flood Early Warning System (CBFEWS) to strengthen local disaster preparedness and response.
Mayor Greg Gasataya and DOST Secretary Dr. Renato Solidum Jr. formalized the partnership through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed during the opening of the Visayas leg of the Handa Pilipinas sa Bagong Pilipinas: Innovations in Climate and Disaster Resilience Nationwide Exposition 2025 on Monday at the SMX Convention Center here.
The CBFEWS will use real-time data from rainfall and river monitoring stations to provide localized flood alerts to vulnerable communities, allowing the city to issue timely warnings and facilitate faster evacuations.
Gasataya underscored the importance of science and data-driven decision-making in managing urban flooding, citing recent flood incidents in this city that prompted collaboration with the DOST.
“In urban areas like Bacolod, time is very, very important,” he said. “These systems will help us make quick, data-based decisions using our own localized data rather than relying on information from Cebu or Manila.”
Gasataya said the city government will fund the installation of seven river monitoring systems and nine rain monitoring systems in key areas here, following an initial discussion last August. He added that that the DOST has identified the installation sites.
“We are just waiting for the full implementation of the project once the equipment is ready,” the mayor said.
“Hindi mawawala ang flooding dahil kahit saan meron. I think that’s a realization that each of us should understand. But what is important is that we will be able to make quick decisions and respond in times of situations like this,” Gasataya said.
Solidum highlighted the importance of proactive measures, emphasizing that accurate, timely, and localized data are essential for effective planning and response.
The MOA signing formed part of the broader Handa Pilipinas exposition, which showcases innovations in climate and disaster resilience.
During the event, the DOST also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to enhance the disaster resilience of local government units (LGUs).
The MOU was signed by Solidum and DOST Undersecretary Sancho Mabborang and DILG Undersecretary for Local Government Marlo Iringan.
The DOST turned over the Handa Pilipinas Guidebook to provincial leaders and the Water Compendium to the Technological University of the Philippines–Visayas (TUPV), alongside the launching of Project Signal, a new initiative to strengthen disaster preparedness and early warning capabilities.
The three-day exposition features interactive exhibits, plenary sessions, technical seminars, and a student pitching competition on disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) innovations.
Handa Pilipinas Visayas Leg 2025 runs from Oct. 27 to 29.

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