IMMINENT DANGER DECLARED TO ADDRESS FLOODING

BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO

A resolution declaring an imminent danger of calamity in Bacolod City was passed by the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod Wednesday.

Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson yesterday said the request was made by the Mayor for the city to be able to use its calamity fund for additional flood control activities.

Mayor Evelio Leonardia said the amount of P10 million appropriated by the SP in March 2, 2007, is not enough considering the additional flood control activities needed to be undertaken by the city, in his letter to the SP dated November 14.

Leonardia said the additional amount of P2.5 million will be used for flood control projects. He said this includes the P1.5 million which will be used for the dredging of the 500 meters floodway in Purok Riverside which is part of the 800 meter flooding bypass project of the DPWH.

The DPWH has a budget of only P6 million which is only enough to put up a retaining wall of 300 meters in the area, Leonardia said. The city volunteered to excavate the 500 meters but it is the DPWH that will construct the floodway, he said.

Leonardia met with the representatives of the Bacolod Anti-Baha Alliance at City Hall yesterday. However, one of its member, Jean Trebol, told the media that they don't want what they have discussed in the meeting reported. So the media walked out of the room.

Leonardia said he explained to the group what actions the city has undertaken to resolve the flooding problem because it appears that they are the ones solely being blamed for it.

He said that after a series of meetings they held with the City Engineers Office, the Department of Public Works and Highways and those affected by the December 2006 flooding incident, the city agreed to dredge the Banago Creek and Mandalagan River .
Leonardia said the dredging of the Banago Creek was delayed by the election and the bidding for the equipment but it was started in August without fanfare.

He said the dredging in Banago Creek was hampered by the presence of illegal structures near the entrance to the Banago port. He said the DPWH issued notices to the 26 owners of the illegal structures but since no action has been taken yet, the SP declared as nuisance all structures along the rivers and creeks so the city could demolish them.

Councilor Roberto Rojas said they found out that there were 35 families that had to be removed from the area. He said these families were served notices of eviction by the City Legal Office Wednesday but they requested that the city defer the demolition of their structures since it will be Christmas.

Rojas said the affected families will be provided a relocation at the Vista Alegre-Granada (Abada-Escay) relocation site, while there are some associations in Banago that are willing to accommodate them.

Leonardia said the city has substantially resolved the flood problem and even assumed the responsibility of the DPWH. “We have done our share but of course we know we still have a lot of work to do,” he said.

The BAHA held a caravan around the city Wednesday and presented their manifesto to the Mayor and the SP.

Leonardia said they are trying to be vigilant because “there are ‘rumblings in the ground' that some people might take advantage of the situation or manipulate it. “To the group, I am giving them the presumption of regularity, but at the same time we are vigilant against those who might take advantage of the situation,” he said.
Leonardia, on the other hand, said he is thankful that the Bacolod City Flood Control Action Team, headed by Rojas is very active, he added.

The city, together with the City Engineer's Office and the Amity Volunteer Brigade started its clean-up operation yesterday in Brgy. Banago.

Rojas said that from Banago they will clean up Bata and other affected areas in the city including those in the southern portion. We are doing our best to solve the problem right away, he said added that he welcomes everybody who wants to help. One of the factors that cause flooding is garbage, especially plastic materials, he added.

Meanwhile, the SP also passed a resolution Wednesday requesting the Mayor and the Bacolod Congressman to direct the City Engineering Division and the DPWH to conduct clearing and cleaning of all drainage culverts located in their respective area of supervision and to appropriate funds for the purpose.

The resolution was authored by Councilor Catalino Alisbo.*CGS