Bacolod City was again hit by flooding yesterday, particularly in the northern portion of the city.

However, Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia's executive assistant, Joemarie Vargas, noted that the flooding was not so much, particularly in Carvic in Mandalagan and Purok Riverside in Banago, when he conducted an inspection about 4 p.m. yesterday.

The water in Purok Riverside did not overflow this time unlike in the past, he said.

The dredging activity being undertaken by the city in Banago, which was started in August to address the flooding problem, was hampered by the presence of informal settlers in Puno Banago.

On March 2, 2007 the Sangguniang Panlungsod had allocated P10 million for the dredging of the Mandalagan and Banago rivers, however, the implementation was delayed because of the election ban.

City Legal Officer Allan Zamora issued notices of eviction to the 35 families in Banago Wednesday, after the SP declared as nuisance all structures along rivers, creeks and waterways, so the city could demolish them after the failure of the Department of Public Works to remove them.

The SP also passed another resolution declaring an imminent danger of calamity in Bacolod City so the city will be able to use its calamity fund for additional flood control activities.

The city is also undertaking a clean-up drive together with the Amity and the Department of Public Works and Highways along the Banago Creek that started Thursday to remove the debris that contributes to the flooding.

Meanwhile, Vargas said he, Councilor Roberto Rojas and Executive Assistant Jose Villanueva met with Sipalay Vice Mayor Oscar Montilla Saturday to see if the city could rent their dredging machine. He said the Sipalay officials are willing to rent out the machine but its hull is still being repaired and the equipment will be released after 10 days yet.

Vargas said the rental fee will depend on whatever amount the Sipalay Mayor and Mayor Evelio Leonardia would agree upon.

He said the city will also update its drainage master plan, which was completed during the Leonardia administration in 1998, to include areas in the northern part of Bacolod City . He said the city will include this time the Maupay Creek, the Banago and Mandalagan rivers because during the time the drainage master plan was made, there was no flooding yet in the northern portion of the city.

Vargas said Sipalay was able to come up with its drainage master plan which took almost a year to finish because it had to establish a baseline data.*CGS

back to top