BY ADRIAN P. NEMES III
“I apologize that we cannot resolve the flooding in Bacolod immediately,” was the reaction of Bacolod District Engineer, Jaime Javellana, over criticisms hurled against the Department of Public Works and Highways following the floods that submerged 14 barangays in the city last week.
Javellana said they continuously work to improve the drainage system in Bacolod but the problem is that the concrete pipes are small and clogged with garbage.
He said that among the measures being taken to deter flooding are the dredging of rivers and creeks and clearing of clogged drainages, that he said, cannot be finished in a year’s time.
Javellana explained that the drainage system of Bacolod is too long, but given enough time, the DPWH and the local government unit will be able to clear all of these drainages of garbage that causes the flooding.
On Saturday, the heavy downpour, equivalent to two to three days of normal rain, submerged barangays 3, 4, 6, Vista Alegre, Taculing, Mansilingan, Banago, Bata, Mandalagan, Sum-ag, Tangub, Alijis, Montevista, and Pahanocoy, and affected 774 individuals.
Javellana said the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office already furnished them copies of the report on the flooding but he said he will run through it yet. A virtual meeting will be held by the CDRRMO and DPWH on Tuesday to discuss plans on flood control since the rainy season is about to start.*
