BACOLOD City — The second leg of the Bacolod Flood Mitigation Summit, a comprehensive initiative aimed at tackling the city’s recurring flooding problem, convened today, December 10.
The effort, led by Bacolod Lone District Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, seeks to deliver “real, workable, and future-ready solutions suitable for a thriving and rapidly developing city.”
Building on the first summit held on October 20, this follow-up aims to consolidate more than a month of discussions and assessments. The gathering marks a significant step toward crafting a Flood Mitigation Masterplan — a long-term, citywide blueprint to address one of Bacolod’s most persistent concerns.
“The masterplan will be the whole city’s blueprint in solving our long fight with flooding,” Benitez said.
He emphasized that the process has been inclusive: “We are proud to note that as we gear toward this, we have involved as many stakeholders as possible — from national government agencies to civil society organizations, and even Bacolodnons themselves.”
Throughout the one-day summit, participants are set to review and refine a consolidated matrix developed after the initial summit. This working document outlines the root causes of flooding as well as proposed short-, medium-, and long-term interventions.
The Bacolod Anti-Baha Alliance, a coalition of civil society organizations, is presenting its position papers alongside national agencies, local officials, and sectoral groups.
The Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) of the Negros Island Region, together with other organizations, will also deliver their analyses of problem areas, recommended measures, and insights drawn from prior discussions. Following the presentations, a technical working group will be formed to translate the revised matrix into a white paper — the initial draft of the city’s Flood Mitigation Masterplan.
Benitez acknowledged the many stakeholders who have actively contributed to the initiative, saying their involvement reflects Bacolod’s strong collective will to finally resolve its flooding woes. He expressed confidence that this second summit will be just as productive as the first.
“One of the main reasons why I believe we will eventually succeed in solving chronic flooding is because Bacolodnons love their city and are willing to do what it takes to preserve and protect their heritage and well-being,” he said.
The lawmaker added that Bacolod’s collaborative approach could become a model for other cities.
“Flooding is a problem faced by many of our kababayan, and we hope this summit can offer a blueprint for the rest of the country,” he stressed.
Benitez further noted, “When a city’s people work together for a common purpose, we can rise above any challenge. Flooding may be a tragic reality of our history and our present — but we should refuse to make it an accepted reality in our future.”
The results of the summit are expected to guide Bacolod’s long-term infrastructure planning, disaster preparedness strategies, and coordinated response efforts in the coming years./PN
