BACOLOD City – Around 80 houses built along Mambuloc Creek in Barangay 2 will soon be relocated as the city government moves to clear major obstructions that worsen flooding in the area.
Authorities have identified these structures as hazards that impede natural water flow, contributing significantly to the frequent flooding experienced in nearby communities.
Mayor Greg Gasataya, during an alignment meeting on November 26 with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the local government unit — initiated by the Office of Lone District’s Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez — announced the relocation plan for families living directly on the creek. He emphasized that the move aims to protect residents from danger and improve the city’s drainage conditions.
City officials reiterated that houses built along waterways place residents at serious risk, especially during heavy rainfall when water levels rise rapidly.
Gasataya said the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP), together with the Bacolod Housing Authority (BHA), met with the affected families and informed them that they will be given 30 days to vacate the area.
“We are finalizing and coordinating with Barangay 2 regarding the relocation. Once everything is in place, we will proceed with the clearing,” the mayor said.
He added that many of the informal settlers have expressed willingness to relocate, acknowledging the dangers of living in a high-risk zone during calamities and heavy rains.
In addition to relocation, affected families are also expecting financial assistance from the city government. However, Gasataya stressed that proper validation is necessary, noting that some residents previously awarded relocation sites had returned to the danger zone.
During Typhoon “Verbena,” which caused massive flooding in Bacolod, the city recorded 23 families left homeless — most of them living along creeks and rivers./PN
