By CESAR JOLITO III
Activist group BAYAN Negros demanded accountability over the P4.283 billion in flood control projects implemented in Bacolod City, saying the recent widespread flooding revealed “a collapse in government planning and oversight.”
In a statement issued on Wednesday, November 26, BAYAN Negros criticized the local government’s response to Tropical Depression “Verbena,” which displaced 10,943 individuals from 3,571 families across 31 barangays, according to the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.
Despite the scale of the devastation, the group said Bacolod should not be experiencing catastrophic flooding given the billions in flood mitigation funds allocated over recent years.
Based on their data, annual appropriations reportedly increased from P118.93 million in 2017 to more than P1.028 billion in 2023.
“[Given] all that money, yet Bacolod still sank,” BAYAN Negros said, alleging that substandard or improperly implemented projects may have contributed to the failure of flood control systems.
Scrutiny ahead of Oplan Kontra Baha launch
BAYAN Negros’ statement was released ahead of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.’s expected visit to Bacolod on December 5 to launch Oplan Kontra Baha, a joint initiative led by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and local officials.
DPWH earlier announced that the program aims to reduce flooding by up to 60 percent through intensified dredging, clearing operations and targeted infrastructure works.
But BAYAN Negros labeled the planned visit “theatrics,” arguing that the administration has yet to fully explain how billions in previous projects were spent.
“The narrative that floods happen simply because garbage blocks waterways is misleading,” the group said, insisting that systemic issues in project implementation — rather than community behavior — deserve more attention.
Call for accountability
The group also called on Bacolod Mayor Greg Gasataya and Lone District Representative Alfredo Abelardo Benitez to disclose the status of major flood-control projects undertaken during their respective terms in Congress and local government.
BAYAN Negros further referenced earlier congressional discussions involving alleged “insertions” in national budgets for infrastructure projects in Negros Occidental, urging a comprehensive audit of allocations and expenditures.
The severe flooding triggered by “Verbena” prompted large-scale evacuations and substantial damage across the city, prompting renewed public pressure for long-term flood mitigation solutions.
While the Office of the President and DPWH have not yet issued responses to the group’s allegations, local officials are preparing for the rollout of Oplan Kontra Baha next week.
BAYAN Negros said communities expect transparency rather than “photo-ops and promises,” and reiterated its call for broader institutional reforms to address corruption and disaster vulnerabilities./CJ, WDJ