Flood Control Planning Workshop Held

P375-M Needed to Ease Floods; City May Also Avail Loan

By Carla N. Cañet

The flood control planning workshop has been concluded yesterday and they got the real picture of what should be done to address the flooding problem in Bacolod City.

They need more or less P375 million to implement the necessary programs on flood control, solid waste management and housing and resettlement.

Mrs. Jean Trebol of the Bacolod Anti-BAHA Alliance said they have a long list of things and programs to be done with the full support of the City Government of Bacolod, their group, National Disaster Coordinating Council headed by Usec. Anthony Golez and other bran-hes of the Local Government of Bacolod.

“We have a long list and I am sure it’s doable if our Mayor will give his all-out support. There’s no question it can be done with the Mayor supporting it,” she said.

She suggested that the city obtain a loan if it doesn’t have the funds. “The Mayor has time to pay it. I am sure that if he gives his support, we can do this. He should support this as he was the one who invited us here together. So what’s the use of putting us together if he is not going to support it?”

The Alliance is very hopeful and expects that he is going to give his full support. Availing the loan is cheaper than the cost of the new government center and there will be no more flood, the group pointed out..

“What more do you want, the city is still flooding. Until the floodway is finished, it cannot totally eradicate, but it can minimize the flooding in the northern part of Bacolod,” she said.

She added that the informal dwellers have to be dealt with, the solid waste management should be given due attention. Councilor Roberto Rojas cannot clean the city faster than those who indiscriminately throw their garbage, Trebol pointed out.

“We need to educate everyone, let them participate in solving the problem. Everybody has to get involved. We will help in the education campaign and in fact, we already started the education campaign. We can do better if the city is with us,” she added.

She added that the plan is only good if it is implemented.

If there is no implementation, then it’s only a plan. Just like the 10-year old master plan on the dredging of two rivers. It became antiquated and the city has to start from scratch again.

“We think that there is sincerity on the part of the Mayor to solve the problem,” she said.

Mayor Leonardia said that, “We will try to squeeze what we have. Possibly, the loan is an option that we have to consider. We need huge funds and equipment-wise, the City Engineer’s Office need equipment as basic as backhoe and yet if we have to rely on the regular budget, we can’t have it. The loan is an option.”

The City can only use 30% of its 5% Calamity Fund for Disaster Preparedness. And 5% of P1 billion is worth P50 million.

Usec. Golez said that, “After all these figures have been said, they have to undergo some technical preparation by technical people. And those are just rough estimates. According to PD 1566, the one that defines disaster management in the country, the local government unit has a local calamity fund for which it can be used to begin with or initially. And whatever it is that they cannot finance, that’s the time the national government can help through the NDCC.”

Councilor Rojas said flooding is a major problem that the city is facing and “we have to come up with a budget of P375 million, considering that we have to make a drainage master plan and implement it. I believe if the city will avail of the loan and if the Sangguniang Panlungsod and the City Mayor will agree, I will push for it because it will solve the flooding problem on a long term basis. If the city decides to avail of the loan, I will go for it.”*

PUBLIC HEARING ON REGULATION ON USE OF PLASTIC

BAHA Says: Regulation on Plastics Use Good Bill But Needs Strict Enforcement

By Carla N. Cañet

The Anti BAHA Council participated in the public hearing conducted by Councilor Greg Gasataya, Chairman of the Sangguniang Panlungsod Committee on Environment, Wednesday relative to his proposed Ordinance which will regulate the use of plastic bags/plastic cellophane (polyethylyne) as packing/bagging materials and institutionalizing the use of biodegradable containers within the City of Bacolod.

Mrs. Jean Trebol, Norman Campos, Agnes Jalandoni, Nena Rosello, Franklin Villanueva, Phoebe Mellizo, Tina Monfort, Rene Hinojales, Dionisio dela Cruz, SM Supermarket Supervisor Jonalyn Diaz, representatives from Lopue’s Department Store, among others.

The public hearing was conducted at the SP Session Hall Wednesday where they have discussed options and suggestions to be considered in the proposed Ordinance.

Mrs. Trebol said that the Ordinance is really beautiful because plastics are the culprit in clogging the drainage and waterways.

But the city should ensure the strict implementation of this Ordinance.

“No one can blame the people for feeling skeptical in the sincerity of government to enforce laws because local laws and even national laws are just piling up but most of it never reached enforcement,” she pointed out.

The government should see to it that the laws being made should be implemented and strictly enforced, she said. “We want to see heads roll if they fail to implement this bill.”

She also asked Councilor Gasataya to rate the city’s enforcement of the Solid Waste Management and if there are failures on the part of the local government on the enforcement, then be open to admit it.

Councilor Gasataya in response has admitted that there is a problem.

But they have started the efforts of truly involving the barangays in the implementation of the Solid Waste Management more particularly in waste segregation and proper waste disposal.

Mrs. Trebol said the barangays should be in the frontline insofar as Solid Waste Management implementation is concerned.. They are really in the first line of defense on this program.

The habit of indiscriminately throwing or disposing garbage is so entrenched and so deep, therefore the government should exert effort on how to discipline the people, make them feel concerned about the environment. The education should be sustainable, she said.

Gasataya said this involves a long process of educating the public that they have a part in the implementation of the Solid Waste Management.

Hinojales also suggested that the government should encourage the public to make cleaning and greening a habit especially in the barangays.

The government can inspire people from doing their share by providing either incentives to those who follow the law and penalizing those who violate it.

“We want to see a barangay that is truly clean and green,” he said.

Gasataya said that they will revive the Clean and Green competition in the barangay.

Mrs. Trebol said that cleaning and greening of their respective barangay should be a habit. Yes, there is a competition and incentives for those barangay which will participate. But they should not forget that the purpose of the competition is not to receive the prize but learn and value cleaning and greening. Make it a habit, he said.

Mr. Diaz, SM representative has informed the body that they have already plastics that are biodegradable.

This has, in fact, impressed those in the public hearing because nobody was aware of its existence.

However, the BAHA council is so keen in asking SM where it is sourced and if it is really biodegradable.

They got a sample of the biodegradable plastic from Mr. Diaz for them to test it if it’s really degradable.* (CNC)