BY ADRIAN P. NEMES III
The dredging operation to clear portions of Mambuloc Creek, behind a condominium in Brgy. 8, Bacolod City of garbage, and prevent flooding, started Monday, city executive assistant Joemarie Vargas told the DAILY STAR yesterday.
Vargas, who is the cluster head of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, said the dredging operation will be completed in two to three weeks.
He said that in their first day of dredging, tons of garbage, mostly plastic, were hauled from the creek where water overflows during heavy rains.
Vargas also said that once dredging is completed, they hope that flood occurrence in barangays 2, 8 and 10, especially near the Vendors’ Plaza and areas around the SM mall, will be eased.
The CDRRMO is using the P28-million Hidromek amphibious excavator, that the city government acquired in 2019, in the dredging and extraction at Mambuloc creek while two houses were moved several meters away from the creek to give way to the machine.
More creeks are scheduled to be excavated and dredged within the year, including those in barangays 16, 35, and Mandalagan, Vargas said.
He added that, as of now, the city government is working tirelessly in addressing the problem brought by clogged waterways that are the main causes of floods.
He said there is also a need to relocate illegal settlers living near the creeks as many of them are responsible for illegal garbage disposal, hence the CDRRMO is in talks with the City Legal Office and the Bacolod Housing Authority to resolve this concern.
Meanwhile, a task force will be created to oversee the construction of a new drainage system in Bacolod, although the proposal is yet to be approved by Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia. Two weeks ago, representatives from the Department of Public Works and Highways presented a drainage master plan to Leonardia but the fund for its implementation is still pending.*
