By Dolly Yasa
BACOLOD City – Mayor Neil Lizares of Talisay City, Negros Occidental is eyeing a long-term solution to flooding after the New Year’s Day flashflood that affected thousands of families.
In a press statement Tuesday, Lizares said he convened the Talisay City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) in response to the flashflood that hit several barangays by surprise.
The flood displaced 4,661 families in 17 barangays, the statement said. City Social Welfare Development Officer Dionela Madrona said their office distributed food packs to the affected. Financial aid was also given to owners of 21 destroyed and 244 partially damaged homes.
The mayor also instructed the City Engineering Office under Engr. Armando Claver to assess the damage in infrastructure and assist in the rehabilitation plan. To facilitate and speed things up, Lizares signed a resolution recommending to the Sangguniang Panlungsod the Declaration of a State of Calamity in the city. The press statement also said that the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council also recommended medium- to long-term solutions to mitigate the flooding problem.
Starting this week, they will have a meeting with the City Planning and Development Office under Marmelo Sausi and the Department of Public Works and Highways for dredging of the city’s two main river systems and waterways. Another meeting is set between the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office under Spyxe Gutierrez and the Office of Civil Defense for donation of equipment and plans of building a command center.
Also discussed was the inventory and future relocation of informal settlers residing under bridges, the granting of livelihood projects to the affected families, revisiting of the City’s Drainage Plan and the regreening of Talisay.
The mayor also thanked the offices of 3rd district Rep. Kiko Benitez, the Provincial Government under Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office 6.
Lizares said Rep. Benitez and former congressman Alfredo Benitez extended help and personally inspected and assessed the damage in the worse-hit barangays of Zone 3, 2 and Sweet Centre.
“Our City has invested a lot in natural disaster preparedness, we are reaping the fruits of the hard work that we have sown. But more work is to be done ahead of us in our effort to protect the environment which ultimately results to saving lives and property and the future of our beloved City,” the mayor said.
