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President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon will visit Bacolod City on Friday to inspect ongoing Oplan Kontra Baha clearing operations, Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said on Wednesday.
Benitez said he will also present to the President the results of the Second Bacolod Flood Mitigation Summit held earlier in the day at the Sugarland Hotel.
He said the summit was convened to refine short-, medium-, and long-term interventions toward crafting a Flood Mitigation Masterplan that will guide the city for the next decade.
The masterplan is expected to cover drainage inventory, enforcement measures, relocation of at-risk families, systematic dredging, major engineering works, and environmental strategies such as mangrove rehabilitation and rainwater harvesting.
Benitez said resolving Bacolod’s long-running flooding problem is essential for a “growing, thriving, and forward-looking city.”
He stressed that addressing flooding requires collective effort, noting that no single project, agency, or individual can solve the issue alone.
Since October, technical teams and sector representatives have compiled a comprehensive matrix detailing Bacolod’s flood challenges—from obstructed waterways and outdated drainage to waste management issues and climate-related risks.
Benitez said the matrix also highlights possible solutions from engineers, civic groups, national agencies, and residents, adding that community collaboration gives him hope.
He acknowledged the Department of Public Works and Highways for updates on Oplan Kontra Baha, emphasizing that consistent clearing and desilting of waterways is crucial.
A Technical Working Group will consolidate recommendations from the first and second summits into a white paper that will serve as the basis of the masterplan.
Benitez said the Bacolod masterplan aims to serve as a model for flood mitigation efforts across the country.
A third summit will be held next year to finalize the projects to be proposed for funding in the 2027 national budget.
Bacolod Mayor Greg Gasataya thanked Benitez for spearheading the development of an upgraded flood mitigation masterplan.
Gasataya said the city has started rehabilitating the Mandalagan and Banago rivers through clearing and desilting operations.
He added that Bacolod will be a pilot area for a waste-to-energy program under a forthcoming memorandum of agreement with the Department of Energy.
