Bacolod: The city government has secured the commitment of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Almana Construction and Development Corp. to complete the PHP152-million diversion channel at the reclamation area by the end of 2025. Mayor Greg Gasataya met with Bacolod City District Engineering Office officer-in-charge Leah Jamero and Almana Construction president Ritchie Neil Corpuz at the Bacolod City Government Center on Tuesday.

According to Philippines News Agency, Mayor Gasataya stated that key agreements were discussed for the flood control project's completion, which began in 2023. The mayor mentioned that they aim for the diversion channel to be fully functional by the end of the year. Located along Burgos Street, this flood control project is designed to convey excess floodwaters and reduce risks in flooded areas, specifically addressing the flooding problem in the downtown area near a major shopping mall.

The mayor further explained that design and equipment concerns would be resolved to enable the simultaneous start of inlet works at Mambuloc Creek on August 27. These actions will facilitate water flow from the creek and nearby drainages during channel construction, reducing flood risks. Almana Construction will implement the detailed engineering plan developed by the DWPH for the coastline outfall.

The city government is responsible for procuring the flap gate and sluice gate, expected to arrive in three months, to prevent seawater backflow during high tide. The inlet will be completed in two months, followed by the installation of the flap and sluice gates at the outfall. The national government will handle the pumping station and other engineering interventions, while the city government aims to open and operationalize the channel as soon as possible, addressing the long-standing wait for this project to become functional.