BACOLOD City – Around 47 families from Barangay Sum-ag and eight families from Barangay Pahanocoy in this city were displaced yesterday, October 21, due to flooding following heavy rains brought by Tropical Depression “Kristine.”
The affected families were living near the creeks and other areas consider as flood-prone in the two barangays, according to the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO).
Edward Ramirez, chief operations officer of the CDRRMO, said as of 9:30 a.m. yesterday, seven areas in Barangay Sum-ag were inundated – puroks Fatima 1 and 2, San Jose 1 and 2, Nami-Nami, Kaisahan, and portion of Bacolod-Negros Economic Highway Banoceh).
In Barangay Pahanocoy, the flooded areas were puroks Villa Lourdes, NHA 4, Hanapbuhay, and Maninihon.
He added that early yesterday morning, several motorists were stranded after the roads along Araneta Street in Bangga Tomaro, Barangay Pahanocoy and in Bangga Aning, Barangay Sum-ag were impassable due to flooding.
Meanwhile, to prevent flooding in the aforementioned flood-prone barangays, a 25-million fund has been allocated for the drainage system project.
Assistant District Engineer Leah Jamero of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-Bacolod City Engineering District announced yesterday that they will implement the project by next year.
For now, Jamero appealed for the public’s understanding as not all areas have drainage system, but she assured that they are working on it.
“There are so many factors that an area is flooded. These include rains, uncontrolled land development, and clogged natural waterways, among others,” said Jamero.
There are also several flooded national roads due to the ongoing construction of the drainage system.
“We are trying our best nga masolusyunan ta ini [flood] or ma-minimize kay indi ta gid man ni totally ma-eradicate ang flooding. We have P25 million allocation because we have seen the problem in those areas [Pahanocoy and Sum-ag],” Jamero said./PN
