The submitting of the criticism follows extreme floods attributable to heavy and sustained rain from Hurricane Verbena (Koto) when it was nonetheless a tropical melancholy on Tuesday, November 25
NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Philippines – A civil society group on Thursday, November 27, lodged a criticism towards Division of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officers earlier than the Impartial Fee for Infrastructure (ICI) in reference to 138 allegedly flawed flood management tasks in Bacolod Metropolis.
The criticism was filed towards DPWH officers: Negros Island Regional Director Denise Maria Ayag, appearing Bacolod Engineering District Engineer Leah Jamero, her predecessor, Engineer Abraham Villareal, and their employees.
Lawyer Renecito Novero, convenor of the Council of Involved Residents (C3) in Bacolod, personally submitted the criticism to the ICI. Copies have been additionally despatched to the Senate blue ribbon committee, the Division of Public Works and Highways, and the Senate by way of Senator Risa Hontiveros.
Novero on Friday, November 28, advised Rappler the criticism covers 138 “flawed” and unfinished flood management tasks in Bacolod from 2022 to 2025, together with one for P655.80 million in 2022, P1.02 billion in 2023, P748.21 million in 2024, and one other P584.60 million in 2025. The 4 tasks alone amounted to some P3 billion.
He known as on the ICI, Senate blue ribbon committee, and DPWH to look into these tasks as quickly as potential.
Novero particularly cited the unfinished P152 million flood diversion channel within the Reclamation Space in Barangay 12, the P170 million flood management mission in Barangay Pahanocoy, and three others in Lupit, Mandalagan, and Singcang-Airport rivers.
“We would like ICI to name the eye of native mission contractors and DPWH officers to elucidate why the vast majority of these 138 flood tasks in Bacolod are virtually faulty or flawed. Then, we wish ICI to advocate the submitting of legal and administrative fees towards individuals behind these tasks,” he stated.
Novero stated the criticism adopted a virtually month-long investigation by their group earlier than they submitted it to the ICI.
“In our criticism, we connected strong proof that ICI can not ignore,” Novero stated. “We would like ICI individuals to return to Bacolod and see the tasks.”
The submitting of the criticism adopted extreme floods attributable to heavy and sustained rain from Hurricane Verbena (Koto) when it was nonetheless a tropical melancholy on Tuesday, November 25.
Floods in barangays Singcang-Airport, Banago, and Tangub reached rooftops, surprising residents.
Lawyer Ralph Sarmiento, dean of the School of Regulation on the College of Saint La Salle-Bacolod, stated it was the primary time he had witnessed such flooding in Bacolod in 40 years.
“Folks are actually offended. They now demand accountability and transparency on billions of pesos value of flood management tasks in Bacolod,” stated lawyer Cesar Beloria, one other C3 convenor, including he hoped the ICI would act on the criticism.
In the meantime, anti-corruption group Tama Na-Negros stated it’s going to lead a Trillion Peso March 2.0 in Bacolod on Sunday, November 30, coinciding with different deliberate protest rallies. The group is led by Bacolod Bishop Patricio Buzon and former Negros Occidental governor Rafael Coscolluela.
Organizers stated they anticipate many Bacoleños and Negrenses to hitch the protest at Bacolod Public Plaza.
A protest march will start at 1:30 pm, with Lupit Church and Capitol Lagoon as meeting factors for southern and northern members, respectively.
Buzon urged residents to go away their houses and be part of the rally, which he stated condemns corruption that severely impacts the poor.
He additionally requested members to put on white t-shirts as an emblem towards corruption.
Police Regional Workplace-Negros Island Area director Brigadier Normal Arnold Thomas Ibay stated a considerable variety of officers can be deployed through the Bacolod rally.
The police have “activated a complete safety and public security plan in coordination with native authorities items, emergency responders, and accomplice businesses,” Ibay stated.
“A adequate variety of personnel can be deployed to handle crowds, site visitors, emergency response, and monitor potential safety issues,” he added. – Rappler.com
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