Bacolod clears Banago waterways to prevent flooding

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD CITY — The city government has intensified its flood prevention efforts as a multi-agency task force cleared clogged waterways in Barangay Banago.

Armed with shovels and heavy machinery, teams from the City Engineer’s Office, Bacolod Environmental and Natural Resources Office (BENRO), Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO), and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) launched a large-scale cleanup along Circumferential Road and Banago River on Monday.

The operation targeted debris that has contributed to severe flooding in low-lying areas.

Workers removed plastic bottles, rusted cans, and construction waste from drainage systems, while a backhoe cleared hardened silt beneath Banago Bridge.

Mayor Alfredo “Greg” Gasataya, who inspected the area over the weekend, shared alarming observations.

“The Banago River’s water flow has shrunk to less than a foot in some areas,” he said. “Floodwaters from Barangay Bata, Sta. Clara, and Mandalagan can’t pass through properly—it’s a disaster waiting to happen.”

The cleanup follows the recent success at Mambuloc Creek, where more than 40 tons of garbage and two truckloads of silt were removed.

Focus has now shifted to Banago’s flood-prone entry point near Purok Riverside, which often causes water to overflow into Pueblo Portobello and Sta. Clara subdivisions during storms.

“We started cleaning this out today, and we’ll increase clearing operations in the coming days,” Mayor Gasataya said. “By Wednesday, we’ll deploy reinforcements from other departments to speed up the work.”

With heavier rainfall expected, city crews are working urgently to unclog major drains before the next storm.

Engineer Joseph Dato-on of the City Engineer’s Office said the inter-agency operation may take several days, as teams work around the clock to implement flood-prevention measures.