IN A bid to address the flood concerns in Bacolod City especially after a heavy downpour, the local government has come up with short and long-term plans, an official said.

Dr. Anna Maria Laarni Pornan, head of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), said yesterday, October 4, that the short-term plans included the replacement of manhole cover, drainage declogging, putting up of big water inlets, widening of catch basins, and proper disposal of garbage, among others.

As for the long-term plans, the city aims to install diversion channels for the drainage, Pornan said, adding that the City Engineering Office (CEO) is now finalizing these plans in addressing the flood problem in the city along with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, along with Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, held a meeting with the DPWH and CEO at the Bacolod City Government Center yesterday.

The city government said that during the meeting, the officials identified 22 "problematic areas" in Bacolod City where the surface water’s runoff reaches 0.5 to two feet.

It said the moderate rainfall on Monday, October 3, has brought 5.5 to 7.5 liters of rain volume.

The flooded areas were Hi-Strip, SM City Bacolod, Barangay 12, Burgos-Hilado Streets, downtown area, Gonzaga Subdivision in Barangay Villamonte, Libertad Public Market, Central Market, Lacson-Hernaez Streets, Rosario-Mabini Streets, Gonzaga-Lopez Jaena, Luzuriaga-Gatuslao Streets, Gonzaga-Mabini Streets, Lopues East, Lupit River in Barangay 40, Mandalagan River near Queen of Mercy Hospital, Sta. Ana in Barangay 31, J.R. Torres, Gatuslao-Hernaez Streets, Mabini-Libertad Streets, Hernaez Street particularly Cokin Building, Magsaysay Flyover, and Magsaysay - Lacson Streets, it added.

Echoing the mayor’s appeal, Pornan called on the public to to be responsible, especially in disposing and managing their waste to lessen the garbage that usually causes flooding.*