• CHRYSEE G. SAMILLANO
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is currently implementing several ongoing drainage construction projects, which are part of the urban drainage master plan project of the DPWH District Engineering Office in Bacolod City.
These projects include the drainage projects along Lopez Jaena Street, and another along Rosario, Luzuriaga, and Gatuslao streets.
Assistant District Engineer Leah Jamero said the drainage construction project along Lopez Jaena Street was awarded to three contractors and has a target date of 200 calendar days to complete.
This project was allocated a budget by the national government of about P90 million and will span three kilometers starting from B.S. Aquino Drive towards the Libertad Public Market, she said.
District Engineer Abraham Villareal said they have so many flood control projects in Bacolod which includes the flood control projects in rivers and creeks, drainages on local roads, and construction of drainages on national roads.
Villareal said the urban drainage master plan feasibility study was completed in 2020 by the Pertconsult International, an engineering consultancy firm based in Bataan.
Villareal said they started the implementation of the flood control project in the rivers and creeks in 2022, including the drainage on national roads, with an initial release of the budget amounting P80 million. They will need to interconnect the drainages from local and national roads.
He said this year, the national government allocated P444 million for Bacolod City’s drainage projects, which include the diversion channel that will pass through Rizal Street going to Bredco Port and Guimaras Strait.
They need an additional of P640 million budget to complete the urban drainage master plan, which involves national and local roads in Bacolod, to address the flood problem in the city, Villareal added.*
