Benitez Seeks Restoration of PHP300-M Floodgate Funds

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY – Mayor Alfredo “Albee” Benitez said a PHP300-million fund initially allocated under the General Appropriations Act (GAA) for the construction of three floodgates in Bacolod this year has been scrapped.

Benitez said he raised the concern with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., emphasizing the urgent need for the funding to address flooding in the city.

“I have told the President that this is necessary to solve flooding,” he said.

Marcos assured him that efforts would be made to restore the funds, Benitez added.

The Department of Public Works and Highways-Negros Island Region (DPWH-NIR) informed Benitez that DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan is pushing for the reinstatement of the lost funds.

“Hopefully, this year, the funds will be restored,” the mayor said.

The city originally planned to construct floodgates with pumping stations across five major rivers as a flood mitigation measure.

The three rivers initially targeted for floodgates are the Mandalagan River, Magsungay River, and Lupit River.

Each floodgate costs PHP100 million and will be implemented by the DPWH.

“Upon hearing the importance of the floodgate project, I think they will try to put it back this year,” Benitez said.

He noted that other local government units (LGUs) also had priority projects scrapped due to funding cuts.