The Bacolod City government has secured the commitment of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Almana Construction and Development Corp. for the completion of the P152-million diversion channel at the reclamation area by end of 2025.
Mayor Greg Gasataya, who met with Bacolod City District Engineering Office officer-in-charge Leah Jamero and Almana Construction president Ritchie Neil Corpuz at the Bacolod Government Center Aug. 26, said that key agreements were discussed for the completion of the flood control project, which was started in 2023.
“They are looking at the end of the year for the diversion channel to be fully functional,” he said in a statement.
Located along Burgos Street, the diversion channel is a flood control project designed to convey excess flood waters and reduce the risk in flooded areas.
It is seen to address the flooding problem in the downtown area near a major shopping mall.
“The design and equipment concerns would be resolved to enable the simultaneous start of inlet works at Mambuloc Creek on Aug. 27. These actions will facilitate water flow from the creek and nearby drainages during channel construction, reducing flood risks,” the mayor said.
Almana Construction will implement the detailed engineering plan developed by the DPWH for the coastline outfall.
The city government will procure the flap gate and sluice gate, expected to arrive in three months, to prevent seawater backflow during high tide.
In two months, the inlet will be completed, after which the flap and sluice gates will be installed at the outfall.
“The pumping station and other engineering interventions will be handled by the national government,” Gasataya said. “On our part, the most important thing is to open and operationalize the channel at the soonest possible time because people have long been waiting for this project to be functional.” | PNA
