REMEMBER typhoons “Goring” and “Carina”? They hit the country in August 2023 and July 2024, respectively. Both caused flooding in Bacolod City, but nothing severe or extreme.
Goring and Carina should have served as early warnings, or potent clues, that bigger and more destructive episodes were yet to come. City officials then led by mayor Albee Benitez should have thought ahead. They should have embraced the future tense.
As far as memory serves, Albee was in Japan during Goring’s onslaught. He was in Manila attending President Bongbong Marcos Jr.’s third State of the Nation Address (SONA) when Carina struck.
Later, I recall Albee announcing in a press conference that he would bring in Dutch experts to study Bacolod’s drainage system. He said he wanted them to draw up solutions to finally solve the city’s flooding problems. It sounded promising — even refreshing.
The Netherlands is one of the world’s best in flood control and water management. Two-thirds of the country lies below sea level, yet its infrastructures superbly manage flood risks. In that sense, Albee was right in thinking of tapping Dutch expertise.
But lo and behold — nothing ever came of it.
ANTI-FLOOD SUMMIT
On July 11 this year, a simple southwest monsoon (habagat) brought heavy downpour that again flooded Bacolod’s northern portion. Among the worst-hit was the upscale Santa Clara Subdivision in Barangay Mandalagan, where floodwaters reached armpit level.
Mayor Greg Gasataya personally supervised dredging work in rivers and creeks, among other anti-flooding efforts.
Pressured by affected politicos, hacienderos, businessmen, and celebrities — many of whom blamed him for “doing less” when he was mayor — Albee announced in another press conference that he would call for an anti-flood summit in the city.
According to him, all stakeholders would be given the chance to propose solutions to flooding. Officials and disaster managers from nearby Talisay, Silay, and Bago would also be invited.
Target date: September 2025.
Alas, this “anti-flood summit” simply joined the long list of beautiful promises for Bacolod.
MASSKARA FLOODS
During this year’s MassKara Festival, the knee-deep flooding around SM City–Bacolod on October 14 also drew public attention. SM’s compound briefly turned into a “waterworld.”
Facebook exploded. Netizens were furious, while others turned to humor, posting memes that entertained the public. But beneath the laughter was a sharp question:
“Where are the flood control projects? And what exactly is Bacolod’s plan to solve flooding?”
TYPHOON ‘VERBENA’
When Typhoon “Tino” hit on November 4, it spared Bacolod from the worst “brown tsunami” that devastated southern Negros.
But 24 days later, Typhoon “Verbena” arrived — unexpectedly leaving Bacolod in shambles. A total of 31 out of 61 barangays were flooded. The worst-hit were Singcang-Airport, Banago, and Tangub.
Floodwaters in Singcang-Airport reached the rooftops — the first time in Bacolod’s history, according to Councilor Caesar Distrito.
Atty. Ralph Sarmiento, dean of the University of St. La Salle–Bacolod College of Law, was in disbelief.
Arlene Infante of the Association of Negros Producers (ANP), and beautician-turned-event-organizing guru Edu Pillora, expressed the same shock.
STOPGAP
Moved once more by public outcry, Benitez held an “alignment meeting” on November 26.
He then announced the hiring of 3,000 “river warriors,” who would spend 10 days picking up and hauling trash from the city’s waterways — rivers, creeks, canals, and more. They would be paid under DOLE’s TUPAD (Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers).
But here’s the question: How effective is this stopgap measure?
Albee said it could “somehow mitigate” flooding.
And his long-promised anti-flood summit, he added, would finally push through on December 10.
‘LAISSEZ-FAIRE LEADERSHIP’
Fine. But this chronic lack of “future tense” simply defines a laissez-faire leadership — a leadership that failed to draw up urgent solutions to Bacolod’s flooding problems from 2022 to 2025.
Now, there is frustration among Bacoleños who remember every unfulfilled pledge.
Through Typhoons Goring, Carina, and Verbena, the verdict has been made clear: Bacolod lacks a capable leader with foresight in the face of nature’s might./PN
