Mayor Javier Miguel “Javi” Benitez has canceled the New Year’s celebration in Victorias City, Negros Occidental, on January 1 “to focus on community service and drainage reinforcement” following recent flooding incidents.
“We will mobilize stakeholders and volunteers to clear drainage canals, assess the track of floodwater, and identify potential water egress points,” Benitez said on Friday, Dec. 27.
A band was set to perform at the Victorias public plaza on January 1.
Heavy rains had caused flooding in Victorias City on Dec. 22 and on Friday.
Three families in Barangay 4 evacuated to a nearby school and went home when the water subsided on Friday, Benitez said.
Heavy rainfall and high tide caused flooding at Zones 5 and 6 of Barangay IV, a report on the barangay’s Facebook page said.
Punong Barangay Christopher Vaflor’s residence was one of those affected by the flooding, it said.
“While floodwaters have receded, it is observed that our drainage is hampered by the current harvest season, which limits the water absorption usually provided by crops. As a result, a bigger volume of floodwater converged at the lower sea level areas in city centers,” Benitez said.
On Dec. 22 eight families in Barangay 21 affected by flooding were also evacuated and received LGU assistance, Benitez said.
It was the first flooding of that magnitude “we experienced, despite the progress we made through drainage system improvements, dredging, and flood control operations that we started in 2022 under our city’s Dredging Project,” he said.
Through their Dredging Project they implemented the widening, clearing, and desilting of waterways in the Malihaw and Magnanud rivers, Guinpanaan and Maagmang creeks, and their tributaries, he said.
Victorias, as a natural catch basin, is among the other northern municipalities and cities affected by the prolonged heavy rains and high tide, he said.
The mayor said he was canceling their New Year’s celebration on January 1 to instead mobilize stakeholders and volunteers to clear drainage canals, assess the track of floodwater, and identify potential water egress points.
On January 6 they will also convene all stakeholders along with their City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council to outline long-term and short-term solutions to this recent flooding, Benitez said.
“We will continue to provide all affected Victoriasanon families with much-needed assistance throughout these times,” he said.
He said residents who have any concerns may contact the Mayor’s Complaint and Action Center at 09289353028.*