By CESAR JOLITO III

Bacolod City Lone District Representative Alfredo Abelardo Benitez has raised alarm over alleged anomalies in government flood control projects, blaming them for the city’s recurring flooding despite billions of pesos being poured into infrastructure works.

Benitez expressed frustration that despite massive allocations, the flooding problem in Bacolod remains unresolved, with low-lying communities bearing the brunt of rising waters every rainy season.

Citing national figures, the lawmaker pointed out that P1.2 trillion has been allocated for flood control projects in recent years — an amount he argued could have been redirected to provide at least one million decent homes under the government’s Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino program.

“That amount could have given many Filipino families a roof over their heads instead of leaving them drenched in floods every time it rains,” Benitez said.

The congressman stressed the importance of transparency and accountability in implementing flood-mitigation initiatives, noting that substandard projects or misused funds ultimately fail the people.

The perennial flooding in Bacolod has not only damaged properties but also disrupted livelihoods and exposed residents to health risks.

Benitez said solving the problem requires addressing both the technical deficiencies and the possible anomalies behind flood control projects.

He urged the city government and concerned national agencies to review existing projects, ensure proper implementation, and adopt long-term, sustainable solutions to protect communities from repeated flood disasters./CJ, WDJ