Following a year-long study by engineering consultancy firm Pertconsult International, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) projects implementing a “drainage master plan” in Bacolod City next year.
DPWH District Engineer Abraham Villareal said the budget for implementation will be included in the 2021 national budget.
He pointed out, according to the masterplan, there are 20 national and local roads included in the planned system, which will mitigate the flooding problem in this city.
The roads include Lacson Street, B.S. Aquino Drive, Lopez Jaena Street, Burgos Avenue, Rosario Street, San Sebastian Street, Luzuriaga Street,  Rizal Street, Hilado Street, Hernaez Street, Gatuslao 1 Street, Gatuslao 2 Street, North Capitol Drive, La Salle Avenue, Lizares Street, Yulo Avenue, South Capitol Drive, San Juan Street, Rodriguez Avenue, and Roxas Avenue.
Villareal said he will coordinate with the city government since the project includes local roads.
Meanwhile, DPWH has yet to propose a budget for the implementation.
Heavy rains left portions of Bacolod City flooded earlier this month.
In a statement earlier issued by City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office officer Aaron Bais, he said their automated rain gauge equipment in Barangay Alangilan recorded a total rainfall accumulation of 102 millimeters between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. on Friday, March 6. The city official explained, the amount is equivalent to at least three days of rainfall.
Following the completion of a long-term flood control project along Lacson Street, Bacolod City residents were previously told that flooding along the city’s main roads would “be a thing of the past.”
In addition, Villareal said his office will request dredging equipment from the DPWH-Western Visayas to be used for dredging rivers in the city, which he called an “immediate solution” to mitigate flooding./DGB, WDJ