By ERWIN ‘AMBO’ DELILAN
BACOLOD City turned into a vast “urban wetland” on Monday afternoon, Oct. 3. After more than an hour of raining, a massive flooding occurred.
Explained by Dr. Anna Maria Pornan, City Disaster Risk Reduction Management (CDRRMO) head, they recorded 19 millimeters of rain within an hour.
It was a huge volume of water. Three MassKara Festival events to be held at the plaza were forcibly cancelled. There was public outrage.
Shocked top city officials held an emergency meeting on Tuesday. Twenty-two specific locations were identified as susceptible to flooding. Mayor Albee Benitez termed them “critical”.
Garbage and clogged drainage systems were tagged as the main causers of the instant flooding. So, both short- and long-term plans were drawn instantly, and one of them is to rapidly unclog all drainage systems.
Too, the mayor asked Bacolodnons to be responsible enough in disposing their garbage.
Anyways, where’s Bacolod City’s Lone District Cong. Greg Gasataya?” netizens asked. Bacolodnons keep on asking: What happened to his multimillion peso, mega flood control project on Lacson Street in 2018 to 2019? Everybody thought ‘twas the ultimate solution to flooding in Bacolod.
At the height of its construction, Greg exactly told the media: “Flooding along the city’s main roads will soon be a thing of the past.”
Sadly, during Monday’s flooding, Lacson Street was among the “casualties” of ankle-high flood waters, particularly in front of Robinsons Place, Lopue’s Mandalagan and Citi Mall.
Anyare?
‘UNGAB-UNGAB’
With all candidness, Engineer Leah Jamero, assistant district engineer (ADE) of the Department of
Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 1st Engineering District, admitted that the flood control project along Lacson Street ain’t totally complete yet.
After three to four years?
“Yes, kay may mga ungab-ungab (gapping) pa, ilabi na sa Mandalagan area,” she stressed.
Why?
“Kay ang budget utay-utay man abi naga-abot,” she also confessed.
But the road/highway on top is “seamless”.
“Even the flood wall in Carvic area in front of the Robinsons Place and near the Mandalagan River remains unfinished still,” Engineer Leah furthered, adding that informal settlers in the area also constituted to the challenge.
So, what’s Greg’s plan? We want to listen to him. Will these ungab-ungab underground stay forever?
According to a prized civil engineer in Bacolod (name withheld), these ungab-ungab in the flood control project as revealed by Engineer Leah could be the very reason why the huge volume of water, instead of running through the culverts going to the exit area near the sea/river, sprang out of the road manholes that ultimately caused flooding on the streets.
“Kay mangita gid na ‘ya alagyan ang tubig kon diin siya pwede ka lusot,” the civil engineer explained.
Oh, my God! We really want to hear from Greg.
DRAINAGE PLAN?
Meanwhile, here’s another “shocking revelation”. Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (MBCCI) top executive Frank Carbon said, “The City has no (approved) drainage plan.”
But there’s a billion-peso drainage plan-cum-flood control sitting at the City Development Council (CDC), he disclosed.
Such just needs an endorsement by CDC to the Regional Development Council (RDC) so the DPWH in the region could start the process, Carbon enunciated.
“If it’s already endorsed, the city’s representative to the RDC should move ‘heaven and hell’ for RDC to endorse this project to DPWH Region 6.”
Then, stressed Carbon, Mayor Albee could put some pressure on the DPWH regional director to facilitate the activation of the project.
Question: Why is CDC (just) keeping such flood control plan?
It’s quite intriguing, right?
But Engineer Leah said DPWH’s 1st Engineering District has its own feasibility study on the flood control system for the entire city.
“This was done by a private consultant and it’s up for implementation. However, budget is the main consideration,” she added.
So, why is the city government drawing its own short- and long-term plans if DPWH already has a comprehensive flood control plan? Is there a system (coordination) disconnect? Can’t they bind their plans, and then act together?
The clock is ticking!/PN
