BACOLOD CITY — Bacolod Lone District Rep. Albee Benitez recently called for a unified, long-term blueprint to address the city’s flooding problem, saying the need for decisive action is “not a choice, but a necessity” for a rapidly growing metropolis.
Speaking before government agencies, civil society groups, engineers, and barangay leaders during the 2nd Bacolod Flood Mitigation Summit at Sugarland Hotel, Benitez said the city must confront long-standing issues, including clogged waterways, outdated drainage systems, poor waste management, and informal settlements along riverbanks.
“We are here because we love our city,” Benitez said. “Flooding has affected our homes, our businesses, our roads, our health, and our confidence as a community. Today is about building a future where flooding does not define Bacolod.”
Benitez said the primary goal of the summit is the development of a Flood Mitigation Masterplan, a unified blueprint outlining short-, medium-, and long-term interventions.
Short-term actions include clearing operations, strict enforcement of waste regulations, an inventory of drainage systems, and proper zoning implementation.
Medium-term interventions involve constructing new ramps for heavy equipment, relocating at-risk households, and implementing systematic dredging programs.
Long-term solutions include building catch basins, expanding river channels, conducting hydrology studies, modernizing drainage networks, and pursuing large-scale engineering measures.
The proposed master plan will also integrate environmental strategies such as mangrove rehabilitation, rainwater harvesting, and private-sector compliance with rainwater catchment requirements.
Benitez acknowledged ongoing efforts under Oplan Kontra Baha, noting that the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) clearing and desilting operations show that continuous, disciplined work delivers results.
“Our rivers cannot remain clogged for years and then be cleaned for one day,” he said. “We need consistent work, and this is the start of that discipline.”
The summit will convene a Technical Working Group tasked with compiling all recommendations from the first and second summits into a formal white paper, which will form the initial draft of the long-needed Flood Mitigation Masterplan.
Benitez thanked the DPWH, DENR, DOST, DILG, DepDev, barangays, planners, engineers, the Bacolod Anti-Baha Alliance, and civil society organizations for their commitment to the city’s flood mitigation efforts.
“History will remember who showed up,” he said. “Our people will forever feel the impact of your labors.”
The congressman emphasized that Bacolod’s greatest strength is its people, highlighting the city’s spirit of unity and resilience.
“Bacolodnons know how to work together. Bacolodnons know how to rise above every challenge,” he said.
Benitez said flooding may be the problem today, but it should not dictate the city’s future.
“Great cities are built by people who choose to shape their future rather than wait for it,” he said. “Starting today, we choose a safer, stronger, and more resilient Bacolod.”
Benitez expressed hope that the master plan being drafted for Bacolod could eventually serve as a model for other Philippine cities facing similar challenges.
“Flooding can be solved,” he declared. “We must show that it can be done.” (Dolly Yasa via tdg)