By CESAR JOLITO III
Bacolod City Mayor Greg Gasataya said they are accelerating the clearing of houses built along riverbanks and creeks as part of an urgent push to address the city’s worsening flooding.
Gasataya said the removal of structures obstructing waterways has become a key priority after severe flooding due to Tropical Depression “Verbena” on Tuesday, November 25, forced the evacuation of around 15,000 residents, mostly from low-lying communities situated along rivers and creeks.
The mayor stressed that the city will only begin the demolition and relocation of affected households once a suitable relocation site is ready.
“We will implement the clearing, but we want to make sure that residents have a place to transfer to,” Gasataya said.
The city has already issued notices to vacate residents of around 20 houses in Barangay 2, which were found to be built directly over a creek and blocking the natural flow of water.
These structures not only worsen flooding but also put families at high risk, especially during heavy rains, Gasataya added.
He emphasized that obstructions along waterways have contributed significantly to the widespread flooding that submerged several communities this week.
The city government continues to coordinate with barangay officials and disaster teams to identify more danger zones and expedite clearing efforts while ensuring the safe relocation of affected families.
Gasataya assured the public that long-term flood mitigation remains a top priority as Bacolod grapples with increasingly frequent and intense flooding events.
‘Oplan Kontra Baha’
A massive 10-day cleanup of major waterways in Bacolod will begin today, marking the first phase of the city’s intensified anti-flood campaign under “Oplan Kontra Baha.”
The initiative, led by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in coordination with the office of Bacolod Lone District Representative Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, aims to swiftly address persistent flooding in the city through aggressive clearing, deepening and rehabilitation of rivers, creeks, and drainage channels.
During the DPWH – Local Government Unit Alignment Meeting held yesterday at the Bacolod City Government Center, Benitez, Gasataya, Vice Mayor Kalaw Puentevella, DPWH Undersecretary Charles Calima, DPWH in Western Visayas Assistant Regional Director Ricardo Gutierrez, Bacolod District Engineer Leah Jamero, city councilors, and several barangay captains reviewed the operational plan for the cleanup.
According to Benitez, more than 3,000 “river warriors” — all Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers personnel from the Department of Labor and Employment — will be deployed across the city’s waterways starting tomorrow.
After the cleanup, the DPWH will immediately commence dredging and desilting operations as part of medium-term interventions.
DPWH serves as the lead implementing agency for Oplan Kontra Baha.
Benitez emphasized that the cleanup serves as a short-term solution while longer-term flood control engineering projects are being prepared and implemented.
President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. is expected to visit Bacolod on December 5, for the official launch of the program, city officials confirmed.
Bacolod will also host the next Flood Mitigation Summit on December 10, where national and local agencies will further outline long-term strategies to curb flooding across the city.
Update drainage plans
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson emphasized the importance of updating local drainage master plans as a key measure to prevent flooding during heavy rains or natural calamities.
Lacson’s statement comes in the wake of widespread flooding caused by “Verbena,” which affected Bacolod and also several towns and cities across Negros Occidental.
Citing San Carlos City as an example, Lacson noted that the local government is currently revising its drainage plan to better manage flood risks.
“I acknowledge that rapid urbanization, particularly in Bacolod City, reflects its attractiveness to investors, but it also brings challenges, including flooding,” Lacson said.
The governor stressed that updating drainage plans — potentially as part of a comprehensive land use plan — can help local governments mitigate flooding problems in the future.
He also clarified that the provincial government is not dictating the process but encourages local government units to take proactive steps./CJ, WDJ