BACOLOD City – The southwest monsoon, enhanced by Tropical storm “Crising”, caused flooding and toppled trees, damaging 15 houses in three barangays in this city.
According to Richelle Verdeprado-Mangga, head of the city’s Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD), 12 houses were damaged in Barangay Granada, two in Barangay Sum-ag, and one in Barangay Tangub.
The affected families have not been evacuated, as they can still stay in the unaffected portions of their homes.
Verdeprado-Mangga said the city government will provide P10,000 in financial assistance to each of the 15 affected families.
Meanwhile, 4,764 families previously affected by flooding from the severe weather disturbance between the night of July 11 and the morning of July 12 received food assistance from the city.
These families reside in barangays Bata, Mandalagan, Banago, 1, 3, 8, 10, 17, 18, and Villamonte — areas located near creeks, rivers, and low-lying zones in the northern part of the city.
National agencies, including the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Office of the Vice President (OVP), also provided food packs and sleeping kits.
Mayor Greg Gasataya said the city is considering relocating residents living near creeks and rivers to mitigate the risk of flooding.
He added that clogged waterways and drainage systems are contributing to the city’s flood problems. Dredging operations have been intensified since July 14 as an immediate response.
“Urbanization is also a major cause of flooding. Previously, rainwater was absorbed into the ground, but now, with more concrete surfaces, water quickly flows toward low-lying areas,” the mayor said.
Mayor Gasataya and Cong. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez convened with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) on July 14 to discuss both immediate and long-term flood control measures.
Dredging and clearing of waterways is currently underway as an immediate response, while long-term solutions will be handled by the congressional office.
Benitez said he is working to secure funding for six floodgates to be installed along five rivers — Banago, Mandalagan, Lupit, Magsungay, and Mambuloc — as well as in the diversion channel in the Reclamation Area.
Each floodgate is estimated to cost between P200 million and P250 million, the lawmaker added./PN
