NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Philippines – Bacolod City was hit by fresh flooding on Tuesday, November 25, prompting outrage from residents who criticized what they called ineffective flood control projects worth more than P4.28 billion since 2017.

Heavy rainfall brought by Tropical Storm Verbena (Koto), then a tropical depression, caused floods that submerged large parts of the city, including the posh subdivision in Barangay Mandalagan, forcing residents to move their belongings to higher floors. Several roads became impassable, prompting suspensions of work in government offices and classes across all levels.

Bacolod’s Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CDRRMO) reported 3,571 families from 31 barangays, or 10,943 individuals, displaced and housed in evacuation centers. 

Dr. Ana Maria Laarni Pornan, head of the office, said additional data from residents outside evacuation centers are still being collected.

The flooding reignited criticism over Bacolod’s P4.283 billion worth of flood control projects since 2017. Records from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) show annual allocations ranging from P118.93 million in 2017 to P1.028 billion in 2023.

Arlene Infante, chairperson of the Association of Negros Producers, questioned the city’s flood preparedness. “So? Where [are the flood control measures]? We just can’t blame a few sacks of garbage clogging the creeks,” she said.

Lawyer Cesar Beloria, convenor of civil society group Council of Concerned Citizens (C3), said the latest flooding exposed flaws in existing flood control measures. 

“The figures don’t lie, thus we’re inspired to go on with our cause because people are now very angry with the latest flooding in the city,” he said.

Edu Pillora, a 50-year-old event organizer, said he was heartbroken seeing the city submerged. 

“This is no longer the Bacolod City that I used to live in for five decades now,” said Pillora, who is from Barangay Mandalagan.

Records from the DPWH show Bacolod City has received a total of P4.283 billion for flood control projects since 2017. These include the following:

• 2017 – P118.934 million
• 2018 – P337.844 million
• 2019 – P283.647 million
• 2020 – P208.600 million
• 2021 – P317.292 million
• 2022 – P655.801 million
• 2023 – P1.028 billion
• 2024 – P748.215 million
• 2025 – P584.698 million

Bacolod Mayor Greg Gasataya said floodwaters of 1 to 1.5 feet made key roads impassable, including Triumph-Bangga Tomaro, Araneta-Circumferential, Lacson Street, Circumferential Road from Bata flyover to Banago, and Magsaysay-Taculing Road, with knee-deep flooding reported in Burgos Street, Overpass-Bangga Pepsi, Villa Lucasan, and Barangay Pahanocoy.

It marked the second major flooding in the city in four months, following July 11-12, which also affected northern Bacolod, including Santa Clara Subdivision.

City emergency and clearing teams have been deployed to all flooded barangays to assist affected residents and restore traffic flow.

Verbena made its seventh landfall in Palawan, late Tuesday night, before moving northwest over the West Philippine Sea. It had earlier made landfall in Surigao del Sur, Bohol, Talisay City in Cebu, Negros Oriental, Guimaras, and Iloilo between Monday and Tuesday, all as a tropical depression. 

The state weather bureau said it could intensify into a severe tropical storm before exiting the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Thursday morning, November 27. – Rappler.com