Engineer: Work has been affected by rainy weather

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) chief of the construction section in Bacolod City assured city residents flooding along Lacson Street will reduce once the drainage system currently being installed is complete, which is expected by this year.

DPWH-Bacolod Engineer Ferdinand Magada admitted installation of the flood control system has been affected by the current rainy weather.

Despite the setback, Magada said contractors assured they will complete the installation on time.

DPWH-Bacolod District Engineer Abraham Villareal, meanwhile, affirmed some portions of Lacson Street experienced high flooding over the weekend and said it was due to the incomplete installation of large drainage pipes in the affected areas.

Based on the latest data released by the DPWH-Bacolod office, the Lacson Street flood control system, which stretches from the Mandalagan Bridge to 6th Street, is 70 percent complete, costing a total of P35 million. In addition, the Rizal-6th Streets drainage system is 60 percent complete, costing a total of P27 million.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration has yet to declare the start of the rainy season, although Bacolod City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office cluster head, Executive Assistant Joemarie Vargas, said the weather bureau would make the official declaration sometime between this week and next month./DGB, WDJ