By CESAR JOLITO III
The long-awaited flood control master plan for Bacolod City is set to be launched on November 15 as part of a coordinated effort between local and national agencies to address the city’s persistent flooding problem.
This was announced by Bacolod Lone District Representative Alfredo Abelardo Benitez following a Flood Control Pre-Summit held on Monday, October 20, which was attended by Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Charles Kalima.
According to Benitez, the DPWH is now crafting a new master plan for flood mitigation projects after the P255 billion originally allocated for flood control was removed from the National Expenditure Program 2026 and reallocated to other agencies such as the Department of Education and the Department of Health.
“The important thing now is that Bacolod will have a clear direction and technical plan for flood control, even if the national budget allocation is adjusted,” Benitez said.
As part of the initial phase, the DPWH will conduct a comprehensive survey to assess river depth, siltation and obstructions in waterways across Bacolod.
The process will guide short-term and long-term engineering solutions.
Next week, equipment such as dredgers, mobile water pumps, drones, and robotic cameras are expected to arrive in the city. These will be used to inspect underground drainage lines and identify blockages and other causes of flooding.
Benitez added that Bacolod’s approach will mirror the short-term flood mitigation strategy already implemented in Metro Manila, where the DPWH allocated P2.4 billion from its savings for drainage clearing and dredging operations.
He emphasized that the master plan’s implementation marks a significant step toward making Bacolod more resilient against flooding, ensuring that infrastructure planning keeps pace with the city’s rapid urban growth.
‘We must own the solution’
In his opening remarks during the summit, Benitez highlighted the need for a multi-sectoral, data-driven approach to flooding, emphasizing that the issue is not merely environmental but deeply connected to governance, planning and community participation.
“Flooding is a global crisis, and we must own the solution,” Benitez said.
During the discussions, agencies and stakeholders identified key problem areas contributing to Bacolod City’s flooding.
These issues will be the focus of detailed deliberation and solution formulation during the upcoming Flood Summit:
* Siltation and sediment buildup in the city’s major rivers, causing reduced water flow
* Overgrown vegetation along riverbanks and within existing flood control structures such as dikes
* Encroachments and illegal structures within the three-meter easement zones along rivers and creeks, in violation of Presidential Decree No. 1067 (Water Code of the Philippines)
* Informal settlements located beneath bridges and along waterways, which obstruct drainage systems
* Weak enforcement of environmental and zoning laws, including RA (Republic Act) 9003 (Ecological Solid Waste Management Act) and related local ordinances
* Unregulated small-scale quarry operations contributing to soil erosion and river obstruction
* Lack of updated river profiling and hydrological data, necessary for infrastructure design and flood mapping
* Absence of a unified Flood Control Master Plan integrating DPWH and local projects
* Need for continuous information, education and cleanup campaigns led by barangays and community groups under RA 7160 (Local Government Code).
“Knowing the problem is one thing; doing something about it is another. This pre-flood summit gives us a clear picture of what we face. The next step is to act decisively and together, guided by data, discipline and the spirit of bayanihan,” Benitez said.
The pre-flood summit concluded with a strong consensus among all agencies and stakeholders to finalize technical studies, policy recommendations and coordinated response measures for presentation and adoption in the flood summit proper./CJ, WDJ