President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is expected to arrive in Bacolod City next week to launch a massive campaign against flooding dubbed “Oplan Kontra Baha”.
Bacolod Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said the president’s visit was supposed to be on Friday but he will not be available so it is being postponed to probably Dec. 5.
Meanwhile, about 3,000 “river warriors” will start clearing Bacolod’s waterways starting Thursday, Nov. 27, as a short-term solution to the flooding problem in the city, Benitez said.
The operation aims to remove 2 million cubic meters of waste from rivers and creeks.
This is a “short-term solution” for flood mitigation, with long-term plans underway, Benitez said.
Benitez together with Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and Bacolod City government officials held an alignment meeting to synchronize efforts for the rollout of “Oplan Kontra Baha” at the Bacolod City Government Center on Wednesday.
Present at the meeting was DPWH Undersecretary Charles Calima and Bacolod officials led by Mayor Greg Gasataya.
DPWH presented the short-term interventions that will begin with immediate dredging, declogging, and desilting work, along with updates on operations, manpower, and equipment needed for the campaign.
They also discussed the deployment of the about 3,000 “river warriors” under the Department of Labor and Employment’s TUPAD (Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers) program and the support pledged by private partners to provide additional machinery for the cleanup drive.
“I will personally assist in the rental of the necessary equipment to expedite the work,” Benitez said.
Gasataya cited the city’s proactive measures, including the use of weather and water level monitoring equipment that significantly aided response efforts during Tropical Depression “Verbena”.
He urged the DPWH to fast-track key projects, particularly the completion of the diversion channel along Burgos Street in the reclamation area to prevent flooding in the area.
The DPWH said the diversion channel will be operational by Dec. 15.
Gasataya also requested the DPWH to conduct immediate inspections of the damaged flood walls along the Lupit River and in Singcang.
VACATE NOTICE
The Bacolod City government has issued a 30-day vacate notice for 80 houses in Mambuloc Creek’s danger zone, with relocation sites under discussion.
“We need to facilitate the relocation process because some were awardees but still returned to the area,” Gasataya added.*