By CESAR JOLITO III
The Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI) has formally submitted a set of recommendations aimed at addressing the persistent flooding problem in Bacolod City ahead of the final flood control summit on Tuesday, June 9.
In a radio interview, MBCCI Vice President Frank Carbon said the proposals were based on discussions and findings from the first two flood control summits convened by Bacolod Lone District Representative Alfredo Abelardo Benitez.
Carbon confirmed that the chamber had already forwarded its recommendations prior to the final summit, expressing hope that these would be incorporated into the forthcoming flood-mitigating compact to be signed by various stakeholders.
Among the key proposals is the deepening and widening of existing drainage systems, alongside the construction of pumping stations and flood control walls in coastal barangays.
The group also pushed for the establishment of “sponge city” features such as retention ponds in upland areas to help absorb excess rainwater during heavy downpours.
MBCCI, likewise, recommended stricter enforcement of no-build zones along creeks and waterways, modernization of the city’s drainage master plan, and the use of Geographic Information System mapping to improve flood risk assessment and infrastructure planning.
Solid waste management reforms and expanded tree-planting initiatives were also included in the proposals.
However, Carbon noted that while the chamber supports broader urban development planning, its recommendation for the formulation of a comprehensive land use plan and updated urban development strategy was not included in the formal submission to the congressman.
Carbon expressed optimism that the recommendations will be presented during the upcoming summit and will form part of the final flood mitigating compact that aims to unify government, private sector, and civil society efforts in addressing Bacolod’s long-standing flooding challenges.
A long-term, citywide strategy to end chronic flooding in the city took shape late last year.
Bacolod’s primary goal is to produce a flood mitigation masterplan, envisioned as a unified guide for the next 10 years.
The plan will integrate short-term actions such as regular clearing and desilting operations, strict waste enforcement, full drainage inventory and stronger zoning implementation, while medium-term interventions include construction of ramps for equipment access to rivers, planned relocation of at-risk communities, and systematic dredging.
“This masterplan will be our city’s blueprint for solving a decades-long problem,” Benitez said in December 2025.
“We make sure that voices from all sectors are heard — from national agencies to grassroots organizations and every day Bacolodnons,” he added./CCJ, WDJ