#DGLookBack2025: Successive floods test resilience of Bacolod, Negros communities in 2025

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY – Throughout 2025, Bacolod and the broader Negros Island Region faced repeated flood-related emergencies from monsoon rains, tropical cyclones, and sudden downpours.

The disasters displaced families, damaged infrastructure, and strained local health and emergency services.

The incidents underscored persistent gaps in urban drainage, disaster preparedness, and community resilience, prompting coordinated responses and renewed calls for sustained mitigation and infrastructure upgrades.

Flooding remained a major challenge not only in Negros but also across the Philippines, where public scrutiny of flood-control spending intensified amid Senate and congressional inquiries.

In Bacolod City and parts of Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental, several flooding incidents hit low-lying and flood-prone areas at different times of the year.

Prolonged rainfall overwhelmed drainage systems, submerged roads and homes, and forced residents to evacuate to temporary shelters.

In some cases, flash floods disrupted daily routines, classes, and business operations, and flooding incidents elsewhere in the country have been reported to have claimed hundreds of lives in past years.

Local government units repeatedly activated disaster-response protocols, including rescue and evacuation operations and the distribution of relief assistance to affected families.

Health authorities stayed on alert for waterborne diseases after floodwaters receded, as cleanup and sanitation drives followed in affected communities.

The recurring floods renewed public concern over drainage capacity, urban planning, and long-term flood-control measures, particularly in fast-growing urban areas such as Bacolod.

Officials acknowledged the challenges and reiterated the need for sustained infrastructure improvements, regular clearing of waterways, and stronger community participation in waste management and disaster preparedness.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. visited the region multiple times to assess flood impacts and check the implementation of flood-control projects, officials said.

Despite the hardships, coordination among local governments, disaster agencies, uniformed services, and volunteers helped reduce losses and speed assistance to affected residents.

Volunteer groups, civil society organizations, and private individuals also provided food, shelter, and other aid to support recovery after each disaster.

The year’s experience highlighted both continuing vulnerabilities in drainage and infrastructure and the determination of Bacolod residents and Negrenses to adapt and rebuild.

As 2025 ended, the succession of floods reinforced the importance of preparedness, cooperation, and long-term resilience efforts amid increasingly extreme weather.