There are still more than 20 families in Purok Mahimulaton, Brgy. Banago in Bacolod City who have to vacate the areas due to the widening of the Banago River , Executive Assistant to the mayor, Joemarie Vargas, said yesterday.

The city government is conducting clearing operations in the Banago area to address the flood problem. More than 34 families in Purok Mahimulaton already vacated the area last month and have been given financial assistance by the city.

Vargas said that in Purok Nami-Nami three families have signified that they are willing to vacate the area. There are also some concrete structures at the edge of the river that have to be demolished, he said.

Some of the families who had vacated Purok Mahimulaton earlier have already transferred to the Kimara relocation site in the same barangay, Vargas said.

The backhoe of the city will clear some portions of Purok Nami-Nami to give way to the floodway that will be constructed by the Department of Public Works and Highways, he said. The floodway is important because, without it, the city will continue to experience flooding, he added.

Vargas said that during a meeting at the City Mayor's Office Tuesday they decided to revise the city's action plan this week to include the Uniwide area up to Banago to address the flooding problem in Puroks Riverside and Paraiso.

The dredging operation being conducted by the city in Banago will transfer to the Mandalagan River next week, he said, while their team is now cleaning up the Mambuloc Creek.

Meanwhile, Vargas said he met with the different rescue groups in Bacolod recently and they have reorganized the Bacolod City Rescue Federation Organization. He said the organization is composed of about 10 independent rescue volunteer groups that will help the city in rescue operations.

Vargas said they will conduct rescue trainings in the barangays, especially in medical, firefighting and water rescue. He said coastal areas will need a different training than that for the interior barangays. He also noted that the incidence of deaths involving vehicular accidents is high.

Vargas said the group is also planning to hold a rescue Olympics in July.*CGS

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