By MAE SINGUAY and CESAR JOLITO III
A total of 441 families composed of 875 individuals from seven barangays in Bacolod City were evacuated due to floods brought by nearly four hours of continuous heavy rain on Friday night, July 11, the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) said.
The affected residents consisted of 106 families in Barangay Banago, 72 families in Barangay Bata, 54 families in Barangay 17, 40 families in Barangay 3, 11 families in Barangay 8, 10 families in Barangay Villamonte, and eight families in Barangay 10, CDRRMO reported.
Extreme flooding, reaching up to four feet, was recorded in Purok Tamburong, Mabinuligay, Pine Tree in Barangay Bata, and parts of Barangays Banago and Mandalagan.
Other affected areas include Barangays 1, 18 and Villamonte.
On Saturday morning, July 12, six nuns of the Blessed Virgin Missionaries of Carmel in Barangay 1 were rescued from their residence by personnel from the Bacolod City Fire Station.
The nuns were safely brought to the Señor Sto. Niño Home in Barangay Taculing.
The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Negros Occidental–Bacolod City Chapter launched full-scale rescue and relief operations early Saturday morning, as heavy flooding displaced hundreds of residents in Barangay Villamonte and other low-lying areas.
Rescue teams were immediately dispatched to Purok Isla, where rising waters trapped families in their homes.
Equipped with a rescue boat, PRC responders braved the flooded streets to reach affected residents and bring them to safety.
The heavy and continuous rainfall led to widespread flooding in several parts of Bacolod, as some residents were forced to seek evacuation from nearby hotels and schools.
Some of the displaced families gradually returned home after the water subsided.
Meanwhile, the city government immediately provided emergency assistance to the families affected by the flooding, with relief operations continuing through the Department of Social Services and Development.
Essential supplies, such as food packs, rice, blankets, mosquito nets, diapers, and hygiene kits, were distributed in eight evacuation centers in the northern part of the city.
Dredging operations
Bacolod Mayor Greg Gasataya ordered intensified dredging operations in northern waterways starting on Monday, July 14, to mitigate future flooding.
Gasataya said rapid urbanization and poor drainage infrastructure are key factors contributing to the recurring floods.
“Previously, rainwater would absorb into the soil. Now, concrete surfaces force water to seek the steepest paths to low-lying areas,” he said.
The mayor said flooding is not an isolated issue, as “climate change, accelerated urban growth, and outdated infrastructure are converging to challenge the city’s resilience.”
Clogged waterways and drainage systems also contribute to the problem, he pointed out.
Talisay City
In Negros Occidental’s Talisay City, at least 2,142 families in 10 barangays were also affected by floods as of Saturday morning, the City Social Welfare and Development Office reported.
Among the affected were 682 families in Zone 14, 480 families in Zone 14-A, 389 families in Zone 14-B, 300 families in Zone 10, 120 families in Zone 2, 60 families in Zone 3, 52 families in Zone 8, 32 families in Zone 15, 10 families in Zone 12, and five families in Zone 5.
Talisay Mayor Rowena Lizares said the city government continues to respond and provide aid to families affected by floods. / With reports from PNA / MS, CJ, WDJ