By CESAR JOLITO III
Families residing along creeks and riverbanks in Bacolod City are set to be relocated to mitigate flooding risks following recent heavy rains that inundated several barangays.
Bacolod Mayor Greg Gasataya announced that the Bacolod Housing Authority (BHA) has been tasked with identifying suitable relocation sites for residents in Barangay Banago near Banago Creek and Mambuloc Creek in Barangay 8.
More than 50 families from Barangay 8 are initially targeted for relocation, with the final number to be determined by the BHA, the Department of Social Services and Development, and the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO).
Assessments conducted by key departments also flagged areas such as Barangays 1, 2, 6, 8, Mandalagan, Banago, Bata, and Villamonte as high-risk flood zones.
City Engineer Loben Rafael Ceballos pointed out that illegal structures, particularly those obstructing waterways, have aggravated flooding in these areas.
Gasataya emphasized that clearing clogged waterways and removing garbage are urgent measures.
“That is urgent and doable,” he stressed, noting that clogged bridges in Banago significantly contributed to recent flooding.
The mayor added that medium-term infrastructure projects, such as the improvement of drainage systems and river mouths, will be implemented in coordination with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and Bacolod Lone District Representative Alfredo Abelardo Benitez.
Gasataya urged Bacolodnons to practice proper waste disposal and support the city’s flood mitigation efforts.
“This is a wake-up call. Nature is sending a message. We need everyone’s cooperation because this is a challenge we all share,” he said.
Recent heavy rains brought by Severe Tropical Storm “Crising” and the enhanced southwest monsoon resulted in flooding that affected at least 4,764 families in Bacolod.
A total of 76 families were directly impacted, while 15 houses in Barangays Granada, Sum-ag and Tangub sustained partial damage.
No evacuations were necessary, as the partially damaged homes remain habitable.
Large-scale cleanup
In a decisive move to curb persistent flooding, the city government launched a large-scale cleanup and dredging operation in Barangay Banago, targeting severely clogged waterways that threaten low-lying communities.
On Monday, July 21, personnel from the City Engineer’s Office, Bacolod Environment and Natural Resources Office, DRRMO, and DPWH rolled out heavy equipment and manual crews along Circumferential Road and the Banago Creek.
The operation is focused on removing massive debris build-up — including hardened silt, plastic waste and construction scraps — that has been blocking drainage systems.
Gasataya, who inspected the site prior to the cleanup, raised alarm over the critical state of Banago’s waterways.
“The water flow has shrunk to less than a foot in some areas. Floodwaters from Barangay Bata, Sta. Clara and Mandalagan can’t pass through properly — it’s a disaster waiting to happen,” Gasataya said.
Earlier, he ordered intensified dredging operations in northern waterways to mitigate future flooding.
Gasataya said rapid urbanization and poor drainage infrastructure are key factors contributing to the recurring floods.
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.
Gasataya also called on the residents to unite and do their share against flooding./CJ, WDJ