By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga
Bacolod City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CDRRMO) cluster head, Executive Assistant Joemarie Vargas, yesterday blamed last Thursday’s flooding, which affected several parts of the city, on clogged drainage systems.
In a press conference, Vargas said two factors triggered the flooding, heavy rainfall and garbage.
Based on monitoring from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. last Thursday, the city experienced 72.8mm of rainfall, equivalent to three to four days of rain.
Vargas said garbage clogged several drainage units in the city.
He, again, appealed for city residents to avoid throwing garbage in the streets.
Despite Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia suspended work for city government employees, the CDRRMO is currently on “full alert status” with personnel on standby.
The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) earlier forecasted rainy weather conditions for the western section of the Visayas, especially in Negros Occidental.
The rainy weather was caused by a low pressure area located outside of the Philippine area of responsibility and two storm systems, one of which was a typhoon.
Meanwhile, the low pressure area currently being monitored by PAGASA is not projected to develop into a storm system./DGB, WDJ
