Mayor mobilizes barangays for flood, waste solutions

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — Mayor Greg Gasataya has urged barangay leaders and government agencies to strengthen collaboration in addressing Bacolod City’s persistent flooding and solid waste problems, as national attention intensifies on flood control programs.

In a recent Solid Waste Management Coordination Meeting, Gasataya emphasized the urgency of unified action to prevent garbage buildup in waterways, which significantly contributes to flooding.

“Please help us. The city cannot do this alone,” Gasataya told barangay officials, citing the removal of 60 tons of waste from key flood-prone areas like Banago River, Mambuloc Creek, and Barangay Bata as of Aug. 15.

He stressed the need for decisive action rather than waiting for ideal conditions.

“No more finger-pointing. Rain or shine, holiday or not, we work together for our city,” he said.

Gasataya committed to supporting barangay-level waste management efforts and pledged to provide the necessary resources and follow through on solutions.

Some barangay leaders raised concerns over delays in the release of their solid waste management fund shares due to pending liquidations.

In response, the mayor, along with the Bacolod Environment and Natural Resources Office (BENRO), announced an updated waste collection route to improve efficiency under the city’s private hauler.

Gasataya reiterated his support for enforcing City Ordinance No. 531, or the Anti-Littering Ordinance, vowing strict penalties for violators to instill discipline and strengthen anti-flooding efforts.

“Littering will be met with the full force of the law,” he said.

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)-Bacolod director Christian Nagaynay also reminded barangay leaders of their role in road-clearing operations and compliance with the Kalinisan Program to improve grassroots waste management.

Gasataya closed the meeting with a call for unity: “Let’s support each other and move forward together.”

In a parallel initiative, Bacolod City Rep. Alfredo “Albee” Benitez met with city officials—including representatives from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), DILG, Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Office of Civil Defense (OCD), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev), and Bago City, Negros Occidental Vice Mayor Andrew Martin Yulo Torres—for a planning session ahead of the upcoming Flood Control Summit.

The session focused on identifying key issues and laying the groundwork for long-term solutions.

Benitez emphasized that the city’s flooding crisis is a shared concern that requires collective action.

Meanwhile, Gasataya earlier proposed the use of “G-App” to modernize Bacolod’s waste management system, underscoring the need for technology-based solutions.

The digital platform aims to improve and streamline garbage collection operations, promote environmental sustainability, and enhance efficiency across the city.

One key feature of G-App is real-time GPS tracking, which integrates with the private hauler’s fleet system to improve coordination, reduce fuel costs, and minimize service gaps.

Gasataya directed the private hauler to prioritize urban zones, including high-density downtown areas and residential subdivisions, to ensure no neighborhood is overlooked.

In a recent interview, Gasataya said he could not yet confirm improvements in garbage collection, as complaints persist.

He said they are still waiting for the updated collection schedule from the hauler before making the final timetable public.

“Once the schedule is not disseminated, this causes residents to just dump garbage which goes to drainages,” he said, adding that the city has given the hauler more than a month to finalize the schedule.

He said only the waste collection schedule for the markets has been submitted, and they are still waiting for the schedule for residential villages.