BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental, Philippines – Sitting mayor and Congressional hopeful Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez is figuratively releasing the floodgates against flooding in this highly-urbanized center of the province of more than half a million people as stronger storms are seen with the La Niña weather event.
Benitez told reporters in a presser this week that the national office of the Public Works and Highways Department has earmarked funds in its 2025 budget to build floodgates in each of three major rivers here at a cost of P100 million per gate or a total of P300 million.
He did not specify these rivers but previous floods have indicated that these are usually in areas surrounding the Lupit, Pahanocoy, and Banago Rivers that overflow their banks during heavy rains.
Flooding has been identified in the City Disaster Risk Assessment as one of the hazards – a potential source of harm or damage to people and the community here – that the report said “occurs during heavy rains, monsoon seasons, and typhoons” and usually happen in low-lying areas.
These areas along the coastal villages of low-lying areas in Bacolod City are Banago, Barangays 1, 2, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 35, to include portions of estuaries in Singcang Airport (particularly in tge community of Magsungay), Pahanocoy, Punta Taytay, Tangub and Sum-ag.
It said incidents of flooding were also noted in tge villages of Bata, Mandalagan, Taculing and Villamonte.
Benitez said the flooding problem is not limited to the city as climate change has made it a concern worldwide, including in countries with hot climates and deserts that were not previously affected by it during heavy rains.
Benitez also added he is looking at using flood pumps similar to those used in other countries as he pointed out that the usual methods may not be enough already.
