Bacolod city: The city government aims to clear approximately 2 million cubic meters of waste from local rivers and creeks. This effort is part of an ongoing major clearing operation following severe flooding caused by Tropical Depression Verbena.
According to Philippines News Agency, the flooding was exacerbated by several factors, including clogged drainage, poor stormwater flow, silted waterways, infrastructure blockages, and inadequate waste management. In response, Mayor Greg Gasataya emphasized the need for a scientific approach to address the flooding, amid calls for accountability from various sectors.
Mayor Gasataya stated that the city has acquired additional equipment necessary for dredging and clearing the waterways, noting that the last such operations took place in 2016 and 2017. On Wednesday, Gasataya, along with Lone District Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, attended an alignment meeting with officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), led by Undersecretary for Special Concerns Charles Calima. The meeting focused on implementing the 'Oplan Kontra Baha' initiative in the city.
Rep. Benitez highlighted that the meeting aimed to synchronize efforts for the rollout of Oplan Kontra Baha. The DPWH presented short-term interventions, including immediate dredging, declogging, and desilting works. On Thursday, 3,000 beneficiaries from the Department of Labor and Employment's Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program, facilitated by Benitez's office, were deployed to clean waterways in various barangays. Each participant will receive a daily minimum wage for 10 days.
Benitez noted that this initiative serves as a short-term solution for flood mitigation, while long-term plans continue to be discussed. He emphasized that addressing flooding requires collective action and expressed a commitment to delivering effective and lasting solutions for Bacolod.
Mayor Gasataya outlined additional proactive measures, including the use of weather and water level monitoring equipment, which significantly aided response efforts during Tropical Depression Verbena. He urged the DPWH to expedite the completion of the diversion channel along Burgos Street, as the unfinished project contributed to flooding in the Reclamation Area and the Bredco Port. The mayor also requested an immediate inspection of the damaged flood walls along the rivers that overflowed during the weather disturbance.
