BACOLOD City – The city government will begin today, October 20, the massive clearing and desilting of the Mandalagan River as part of its ongoing flood mitigation project.
This follows the arrival of the amphibious dredger and truck-mounted flood mitigating pump unit recently dispatched to the city by the Department of Public Works and Highways–Negros Island Region (DPWH-NIR).
Mayor Greg Gasataya expressed gratitude for the support from the national government, emphasizing the importance of cooperation in addressing the city’s flooding concerns.
“With the national government backing us up, one thing becomes clear – when we move with one resolve, even something as forceful as a river can be guided in the right direction,” Gasataya said.
He added that the arrival of the amphibious dredger, requested from the DPWH, marks a crucial step in the city’s efforts to clear and desilt the Mandalagan River.
“This is part of the commitment we made last August — to ensure that during heavy and torrential rains, water flows freely through our waterways and no longer spills into our streets,” he explained.
Gasataya also noted that the equipment was secured at no rental cost, allowing the city to save public funds while improving operational efficiency.
“By working with the national government through the DPWH, we secured this dredger without the burden of rental costs. Not a single centavo from our taxes will be spent on renting this heavy equipment,” the mayor said.
Over the past months, the city government has ensured that river rehabilitation measures are data-driven and guided by proper engineering standards. Using Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) GPS technology, hydrographic surveys were conducted along the Mandalagan and Banago Rivers to obtain precise measurements of river depth, width, and silt buildup.
Following the survey in Banago River, the city launched clearing and desilting operations at Banago Bridge, Pueblo, and Riverside, removing 1,330.2 tons of silt (739 cubic meters) and collecting 67 tons of garbage and waste from the city’s creeks. These efforts have already improved water flow and reduced surface buildup during rainfall.
Meanwhile, truck-mounted flood mitigation equipment has been deployed in the BREDCO area to help manage floodwaters while waiting for the completion of the Diversion Channel Project in the reclamation area.
Gasataya personally inspected the Diversion Channel construction site to check its progress and ensure timely completion. According to DPWH engineers and the project contractor, Almana Corporation, the project is now 88 to 89 percent complete.
“Naghulam man kita sa DPWH Regional Office sang Truck-Mounted Pump Unit agud makabulig drain sang tubig samtang ginatapos pa ang channel,” the mayor said.
The DPWH reported that the inlet is expected to be completed and the sluice gate delivered by the second week of November, with installation to follow within two weeks.
Gasataya added that, based on the current timeline, the Diversion Channel is expected to be fully operational by the second week of December, or earlier.
In a related development, the City Engineer’s Office (CEO) has also conducted drainage system clearing operations along Bugnay and Kamunsil Streets in Barangay Villamonte, following reports of localized flooding in the area./PN
