Councilor Caesar Distrito has called for urgent action following the unprecedented flooding triggered by consecutive storms Tino, Uwan, and Verbena that severely affected Bacolod City.
Distrito, in a statement Nov. 26, described the flooding as “alarming and life-threatening”, with communities along the Magsungay, Lupit, Banago, and Mandalagan rivers, as well as coastal barangays, experiencing the worst impacts. He recounted how families in Purok Mars were forced onto rooftops to escape the rising waters.
He thanked the city government, under Mayor Greg Gasataya, the DSSD, DSWD, CDRRMO, City Engineer’s Office, DepEd, barangay officials, volunteers, and civic groups for their immediate response.
He also acknowledged Rep. Albee Benitez for proactive relief and evacuation advisories, and welcomed the mayor’s announcement of an incoming dredger to restore river depth and prevent future overflows.
Distrito urged the City Engineer’s Office to hasten the repair of the damaged Magsungay–Barangay 35 footbridge, and accelerate drainage works from JR Torres Subdivision to Zone 4 Calong-Calong. He also called on the DPWH to immediately fix damaged floodwalls in Purok Mars, Purok Tahong, Purok Kabulakan 1, and other vulnerable areas as they are life threatening and danger area in case of heavy rain.
Raising concerns about relief delivery, he stressed that evacuees lacked ready-to-eat food since many lost their cookware to the floods. He urged the DSWD to increase its food prepositioning and ensure immediate and non-selective distribution to all reported affected families. Distrito cited that in Barangay Singcang, only 1,200 food packs reached 5,800 affected families.
“We appeal to the DSWD to provide food packs to all flood victims, as reported by the DSSD,” he said.
Distrito, in his privilege speech at the Sangguniang Panlungsod session Nov. 26, also criticized the SSS for excluding Bacolod and the whole Negros Island Region from its calamity loan program despite a declared state of calamity and Proclamation 1077, placing the country under a national state of calamity.
He called the exclusion “illegal and unacceptable.”
He also urged a wider distribution of anti-leptospirosis medicines, such as doxycycline.
As long-term solutions, Distrito pushed for five legislative measures: the Bacolod City Evacuation Centers Management System, Bacolod River Restoration and Reforestation Program, a Permanent Emergency Food Stockpile, Mandatory Barangay Climate Resilience Plans, and strengthened Drainage and Flood Mitigation ordinances.
He said that these proposals complement the Flood Summit led by Benitez and the rollout of Oplan Kontra Baha, recommending its expansion to include massive cleanup of roads filled with mud and debris.
He also acknowledged the city government’s ongoing flushing operations along Araneta Street and hopes this will expand to other affected roads and streets. ||
