Bacolod Mayor Greg Gasataya is spearheading a largescale clearing and desilting operation at Mandalagan River, in a bid to mitigate persistent flooding in adjacent communities, particularly in barangays Banago, 1, and 2.
This initiative follows a hydrographic survey revealing that the river mouth’s water level has dropped to less than a meter, signaling significant silt accumulation.
“Under normal circumstance, the waterflow is too slow to move into the sea due to siltation, causing a backflow,” Gasataya said in a city press release Aug. 28.
The city is waiting for the arrival of an amphibious dredger from the Department of Public Works and Highways Regional Office to aid in the clearing efforts.
“One thing is for sure: what we are doing is based on the study conducted with the needed engineering measures,” Gasataya said as he assured that the local government will meet fuel supply needs and provide essential heavy equipment for hauling.
City Engineer’s Office OIC, Engr. Loben Ceballos, noted that the operation will span over 500 meters of the river, from the mouth to Mandalagan Bridge 2 in Barangay 1. He projects that the desilting process will take more than six months and is expected to greatly alleviate flooding issues in the area.
Gasataya also disclosed plans to acquire a city-owned amphibious dredger to extend the clearing operations to other major waterways, including Banago River, Magsungay River, Lupit River, Sum-ag River, and Tangub River. ||
