ON SATURDAY evening, June 8, there was flooding in the area of circumferential road in Bacolod City.
Indeed, the flood is probably our biggest concern during the rainy season, and it has been a constant battle for years now – for example, in Lacson Street, Araneta Street, and in many other places in the city.
It was certainly not the first time that Bacolod, especially the circumferential road, went under water.
Remember the floods that happened in the vicinity of Gaisano City and Robinsons Place last year after continuing days of rains?
Last Saturday, it was not even a full day of rain yet the Circumferential Road experienced floods.
What causes floods in Bacolod? Based on my study, there are 3 major causes: clogged waterways, poor drainage system, and the huge amount of trash and garbage.
Added to it is poor city planning because Bacolod has no comprehensive urban plan, which includes a citywide drainage plan.
So what shall we do, now that the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) has officially declared the start of the rainy season in our country?
We need more proactive, workable, and inexpensive systems to control floods in Bacolod before the rains, not after, not when the rains and the floods come.
First, for the City Government of Bacolod to clear the clogged areas, and clean up the clogged drainage.
Second, for the City and through the barangays, to strictly implement and manage garbage more effectively. No segregation, no collection. If we are able to effectively manage our own waste, our own household trash, our own community garbage, we can prevent floods from happening.
Third, for the City to have more education campaigns starting from the Purok and Barangay levels to empower the residents and the community to manage their waste and garbage more conscientiously. After all, garbage can be traced to people, to you, to me, to us all.
This is now a challenge to the newly elected barangay officials to devise and implement ways and means to have an effective garbage disposal and clean clogged drainage through participatory, inexpensive and eco-friendly community initiatives.
Fourth, for the City of Bacolod to strictly implement the laws, rules, and ordinances. The residents should be disciplined enough not to carelessly dump trash wherever it is convenient for them.
Every morning, for example, the Bacolod City Public Plaza and the grounds of the Bacolod New Government Center have plenty of trash, on the pathways, on the concrete bench, on the grasses, despite the presence of garbage bins!
On the positive side, it is heartwarming to note that the national government, through the DPWH, is constructing a new drainage system in Lacson Street, which will hopefully prevent flooding in the area once it is finished.
Fifth, for the City Government of Bacolod to have an urban plan, and implement a comprehensive citywide drainage plan.
In the final analysis, floods are controllable with proper planning measures, including functional drainage systems, the coordinated water- and land-use planning, and the support and cooperation of each Bacolodnon to make our city safe and floods-free for everybody.
Eli Gatanela is a lawyer, licensed real estate consultant and urban planner. For comments and feedback, e-mail eligat_ph@yahoo.com
