By MAE SINGUAY
BACOLOD City – Thursday last week’s flashflood had city officials scampering for solutions to prevent a similar one from happening again.
Torrential rains were to blame, said Herminio Gulmatico, assistant district engineer of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) here.
But Gulmatico assured city officials that DPWH is finding ways to prevent a similar “phenomenon” from happening again.
There is an ongoing clearing of the city’s drainage system, said Gulmatico who met Acting Mayor Greg Gasayata and officials of the City Engineer’s Office (CEO) and the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO).
The heavy downpour last week caused the creek at PHHC Bridge in Barangay Montevista to overflow and flood major streets.
“Next year, the bridge will be widened. It will also have a higher elevation,” said Gulmatico.
DPWH already completed its comprehensive study on flood prevention here, he said. It was submitted to Mayor Monico Puentevella last month.
Puentevella is currently in Spain for the FIBA World Cup.
Gasataya welcomed such a comprehensive study. But for the moment, he said, the CEO and the DRRMO will be coordinating with each other in the drainage clearing operations.
The People’s House or city hall was not spared by last week’s flashflood. The downspouts failed to function well and rainwater spilled to the lobby.
Gasataya said dry cement may have clogged the downspouts that collected water from the gutter.
He directed Engr. Allan Agbones of the CEO to check which downspouts were problematic, and fix them./PN
