By CESAR JOLITO III

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has set the first week of February as the target date for the operationalization of the diversion channel project intended to mitigate flooding in Bacolod City’s reclamation area.

DPWH Undersecretary Charles Calima gave the assurance during an alignment meeting with Mayor Greg Gasataya at the Bacolod City Government Center last week, emphasizing the need to fast-track remaining works and prevent further delays.

Calima instructed the project contractor, Almana Construction and Development Corporation, to strictly adhere to the revised timeline to ensure the project’s immediate functionality.

The meeting was attended by DPWH in the Negros Island Region officer-in-charge (OIC) Jose Al Fruto, regional division heads, DPWH-Bacolod OIC Leah Jamero, City Engineer’s Office OIC Loben Ceballos, and representatives of the contractor, underscoring the coordinated effort between national and local agencies.

The diversion channel project, launched in 2023, carries a budget allocation of P152 million and forms part of the government’s broader flood mitigation initiatives in flood-prone areas of Bacolod City.

In a related development, Calima said DPWH’s intensified waterway rehabilitation and cleanup operations under Oplan Kontra Baha will continue until June 2026.

As of January, the agency has removed more than 25,700 cubic meters of silt from major waterways, including Mambuloc Creek, Mandalagan River, Banago Creek, and Lupit River.

Additionally, DPWH reported the removal of over 2,600 cubic meters of waste from national and local drainage systems across the city as part of ongoing declogging operations aimed at improving water flow and reducing flood risks during the rainy season./CJ, WDJ