Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia said he has requested the President to release the remaining budget for the 800-meter floodway in Purok Riverside, Brgy. Banago, Bacolod City, to address the flooding problem in the area.

He said the Department of Public Works and Highways has an available budget of P6 million, which is only good for the completion of 300 meters out of the 800-meter project.

Considering that until now the DPWH has not been given clear assurance when the remaining P12 million will be released, Leonardia said he requested President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, during his visit to Malacañang, to release the remaining budget.

He said the President asked him to make an official communication, and they will also continue to lobby for it, he added.

Leonardia said the 800-meter floodway is from the junction of the container yard of Negros Navigation going to Purok Riverside in Brgy. Banago and this is supposed to bypass the waterways that pass through the Sta. Clara Subdivision and inner portion of Purok Riverside.

“That is the recommendation of practically all the engineers and for us that is very vital. Let me emphasize that this is a DPWH project,” he said.

Leonardia said the DPWH could not tell when the remaining P12 million will be released, that is why the city has volunteered to excavate the remaining 500 meters just to facilitate the project. He said the city is only assisting, and its excavation work will start once the DPWH has completed the 300 meters.

Their commitment to DPWH is only to hasten the process and this will not mean construction of a riprap, or retaining wall, which is provided in the program of work of the DPWH, Leonardia said.

He said the informal settlers in Purok Riverside are the responsibility of the DPWH. However, they asked the DPWH to have their legal counsel sit down with the city’s legal counsel so they could help these residents, he added. 

Meanwhile, Leonardia issued a memorandum designating Executive Assistant III Alex Coloso to oversee the administrative aspect of the Bacolod Traffic Authority Office in addition to his present workload.

Coloso was also designated by the Mayor to evaluate documents before approval by his office, or make recommendation for the improvement/development of the BTAO.*CGS

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