BACOLOD City – In response to intensifying floods, extreme heat, and increasingly unpredictable weather patterns, the Bacolod City Council has approved on first reading a proposed ordinance seeking to institutionalize climate resilience and disaster preparedness measures across the city.
Authored by Councilor Atty. Caesar Z. Distrito and co-authored by Councilor Pao Sy, the proposed “Bacolod Climate Resilience and Emergency Preparedness Ordinance of 2026” aims to strengthen the city’s long-term capacity to respond to climate-related emergencies before they escalate into disasters.
The measure would require mandatory climate adaptation budgeting, localized flood early warning systems, heat index emergency protocols, and annual evacuation readiness audits in all barangays.
City officials said the ordinance reflects Bacolod’s shift toward a more proactive and science-based disaster management strategy as climate risks continue to intensify nationwide.
“Climate change is no longer a distant concern,” Distrito said. “We are already experiencing its effects through stronger flooding, dangerous heat conditions, and increasingly unpredictable weather patterns. This proposed ordinance ensures that Bacolod becomes more prepared, responsive, and resilient.”
Unlike traditional disaster response measures that focus primarily on relief operations after calamities strike, the proposed ordinance emphasizes prevention, preparedness, and long-term resilience planning.
Under the measure, all city departments would be required to integrate climate adaptation and disaster resilience programs into their annual plans and budget proposals.
The ordinance also mandates the establishment of localized flood monitoring and warning systems in flood-prone barangays through the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), enabling communities to receive faster and more targeted alerts during severe weather events.
Sy said strengthening preparedness at the grassroots level is critical in minimizing casualties and property damage during emergencies.
“Preparedness and resilience begin at the community level,” Sy said. “Through this ordinance, we are ensuring that every barangay and every family in Bacolod is better equipped to respond to climate-related risks and disasters.”
Recognizing the growing health risks posed by extreme heat, the ordinance likewise proposes the creation of formal heat index emergency protocols.
These include possible class suspension advisories, hydration stations, public health warnings, and coordinated emergency measures during periods of dangerously high heat levels.
The inclusion of heat-related response measures comes as several parts of the country have recently experienced record-high heat indices linked to the El Niño phenomenon and the broader impacts of climate change.
Another major component of the proposed ordinance is the conduct of annual evacuation readiness audits to assess whether evacuation centers are adequately equipped to handle emergencies.
The audits will evaluate sanitation facilities, accessibility for vulnerable groups, emergency power supply, and overall disaster response capability.
Distrito stressed that local governments must prioritize preparedness long before disasters occur.
“This ordinance is about protecting lives, safeguarding communities, and ensuring that our local government is prepared before disasters happen—not only after,” he said./PN
