THE drainage master plan for Bacolod City is already finished and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will implement it in 2021.
Bacolod City District Engineer Abrahan Villareal said on Friday, March 13, he is only waiting for the official copy of the drainage master plan that will be forwarded to the city anytime next week.
He said the study was conducted by Pert Consultants, who are based in Bataan, and they already identified 20 local roads that need the inland drainages.
These areas are along Lacson Street, B.S Aquino Drive, Lopez Jaena, Burgos Street, Rosario Street, San Sebastian Street, Luzuriaga Street, Rizal Street, Hilado Street, Hernaez Street, Gatuslao 1, Gatuslao 2, North Capitol Street, La Salle Street, Yulo Street, South Capitol Drive, San Juan Street, Rodriguez Street, and Roxas Avenue.
Villareal said the implementation of the drainage master plan will be included in 2021 budget.
DPWH allotted P16 million for the study of the drainage master plan, but it was reduced to P14 million.
Villareal said flash floods were experienced by Bacolodnons last week because of the high level of waters in the river where the Automated Rain Gauge in Barangay Alangilan recorded a total cumulated rainfall of 102 millimeters or equivalent to three days of rain.
He said Congressman Greg Gasataya instructed them immediately to inspect the drainage projects in various areas and it was determined that all of it also functioned during the heavy rains.
A high tide was also recorded at 8:21 p.m. With 1.35 meters height which worsened the flooding situation in Bacolod like the downtown area, Barangays Villamonte, Mandalagan, Montevista, Tangub, and Singcang Airport.
“That incident was extra super strong than what occurred before,” Villareal said.
“Our drainages were already 70 percent complete from the bottleneck areas like along Robinson’s Mall, Lacson Street, Magsaysay Flyover going to Araneta Street, and along Circumferential Road,” Villareal said.
After the floods, he said DPWH also conducted a declogging in various areas where some of the drainages were full of plastic wastes.
“We need to clean our drainages and to finish our flood wall projects in the five major rivers and creeks so that the water can flow continuously,” he added.
Villareal noted they need additional P700 million to finish the flood wall projects in the five major rivers and creeks in the city.
Villareal said it’s part of the budget the removal of shanty’s or illegal structures in the rivers and creeks.
“We were not able to finish the projects because of the presence of the obstruction like the mangroves and shanty’s or illegal structures that prohibits the flow of water. It takes time to relocate the affected residents,” he said.
Villareal will also present the drainage master plan to Mayor Evelio Leonardia for its implementation.