Two houses were destroyed and seven were damaged when a riprap along the Mandalagan River in Purok Ylac, Barangay 1, Bacolod City , which supported them, gave way as heavy rains poured Thursday.

The structure, reportedly constructed by the Department of Public Works and Highways about a year ago, collapsed because it had a weak foundation.

No one was hurt during the incident at about 2:30 p.m. during the observance of All Saints Day, but residents failed to save their belongings.

Some of the families had evacuated earlier after they were warned by Barangay Captain Sammy Gaitan of Brgy. 1 Wednesday night, as there were indications that the structure would collapse. Residents in the area reportedly saw the riprap moving Thursday morning.

Gaitan, one of the 22 re-elected barangay captains in the recent elections, said 59 people were affected. He estimated the damage at about P100,000.

Temporary shelter and food have been provided to the six families who could not return to their houses, Gaitan said. He identified the victims as Paquito, Reynaldo and Julie, all surnamed Cayao, Ely Acosol, Editha de los Reyes, Jesus Loreto, Romeo Mahilum and Emmanuel and Alan Alo.

Gaitan said the houses of Paquito Cayao and Romeo Mahilum were destroyed and there were portions of some houses that fell into the river. Before the incident Thursday, the pigpen of Julie Cayao fell into the river but her hog was recovered, he said.

Gaitan said De los Reyes, who lived next to his house, was cooking “suman” and was inviting them to join her, when the riprap supporting her house gave way. He said they were able to recover her frying pan from the river with the “suman” and laddle still intact.

He also sought assistance from the city and the Congressional Office.

Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson said the Sangguniang Panlungsod committee on Public Works should look into the incident to prevent similar cases from happening again.

Executive assistant to the mayor, Joemarie Vargas, said because of the long holiday, the Department of Social Services will be making an assessment on Tuesday yet to determine whether the victims will need food assistance or housing materials. He said the affected residents are not poor and their houses were built of concrete and not light materials.

Gaitan said Bacolod Rep. Monico Puentevella had sent a sack of rice yesterday. He said the solon has also promised to allocate a budget for the repair and construction of the riprap.

Meanwhile, there were complaints of flooding that caused traffic to stall for almost two hours Wednesday evening along Lacson Street from the ABS-CBN area up to Barangay Bata in Bacolod City .

Text messages received by the DAILY STAR said “a foreigner driving a car was shouting ‘This is what corruption brings you'.”

Another said: “Please send police to Bata-Pepsi traffic guid.”

“Diyos ko puerte kalaba di sang traffic halin Rolling Hills to Robinsons (My God, the traffic here is very long - from Rolling Hills to Robinsons).”

“One hour and a half na kami in front of ABS wala help from traffic enforcers. Need help from city. Basi matulog kami diri (We have been in front of ABS for 1 ½ hours with no help from the traffic enforcers. We might sleep in our car).”

Vargas said the city has started the dredging of the Banago Creek while the DPWH will put up a floodway in Purok Riverside from the bridge going inward. The structure will be 20 feet wide and 9 feet deep, he said.

He said that based on experience, the water subsides faster now since the city started dredging the Banago Creek.

Vargas said representatives of the PAGASA national office were in Bacolod yesterday to make an assessment. He said he will also submit to the Mayor on Tuesday a post-disaster assessment report on the situation in Barangay 1 up to Bata and Barangay 8.

He also reminded the public to dispose their garbage properly since these clogs up the drainage system and causes flooding.*CGS

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