• CHERYL G. CRUZ
The Council of Concerned Citizens (CCC) said Sept. 17 that they have requested Department of Public Works and Highways and Bacolod officials for a joint inspection of flood control and drainage projects in the highly-urbanized city.
The joint inspection is set on Sept. 22 and 23, with four projects each day, all worth about P652.5 million, per data released by lawyer Cesar Beloria Jr., also of the newly-formed CCC.
In a letter to Bacolod Rep. Alfredo Benitez, Mayor Greg Gasataya, and DPWH Bacolod OIC district engineer Leah Jamero, CCC convenor, Fr. Aniceto “Mao” Buenafe, proposed that the inspection cover, without limitation, projects from 2022 to 2025, including revetment and floodwall constructions at Lupit River, Sum-ag River, Magsungay River, Ngalan River, and Bakyas Creek; drainage construction and rehabilitation works, like those at Gatuslao Street, La Salle Avenue, and barangay-level drainage systems; and other riverbank protection and flood mitigation projects funded, or completed, within the three-year period.
“The inspection is free from any suspicion of politicking or partisanship,” Buenafe stressed, adding the “initiative is anchored on the principles of fairness, transparency, and accountability.”
He said all stakeholders should be present and represented in the inspection, including the DPWH Bacolod DEO, the Office of the City Mayor, and the Office of the Congressman, so that the public may be assured that “government funds for flood control are duly protected and spent in accordance with law; and issues of possible ghost projects, substandard works, overpricing, or double funding are addressed”, among others.
Buenafe stressed the need for people of Bacolod to be fully informed on how their money has been spent, to maintain public trust, and for concerned officials and offices to welcome this initiative “as a demonstration of shared responsibility to safeguard public funds and strengthen public confidence in infrastructure governance.”
CCC, a civic organization composed of professionals, community leaders, and residents of Bacolod, is also joining the “A Trillion March: Mahiya kayo! Ikulong na!” indignation rally on Sept. 21 in Bacolod, together with One Negros Ecumenical Council (One-C), and other cause-oriented groups.
The indignation march-rally will start from the Capitol Lagoon at 1 p.m. towards the Bacolod public plaza replica where a program will be held to condemn “the social evil of corruption”, particularly with ongoing controversies on the anomalous flood control and infrastructure projects, among others.
Fr. Armand Onion, One-C provincial coordinator, said they have secured a rally permit with an initial 6,000 participants expected to join the assembly. | CGC
