Posted on July 14, 2025
BACOLOD CITY—This city and Talisay City in Negros Occidental will begin intensified dredging operations in their waterways on Monday, following the massive floods that displaced over 17,000 persons following torrential rains spawned by the southwest monsoon.
Bacolod Mayor Greg Gasataya attributed the severe flooding on Friday and Saturday, which reached up to 1.2 meters (4 feet) in some parts in the city and forced over 1,600 residents to flee their homes, to a combination of urban development pressures and infrastructure challenges.
“Multiple factors contribute to our flooding. Urbanization is one. Previously, rainwater would absorb into the soil. Now, concrete surfaces force water to seek the steepest paths to low-lying areas,” Gasataya said.
The Bacolod City Communications Office also reported that the “severe flooding in Sta. Clara, Mandalagan, and even Banago wasn’t just because of heavy rains—it was also caused by rising tides that drowned our outfalls, preventing water from draining out to sea. With nowhere else to go, the water surged back into our streets.”
The Bacolod city government said it “was not turning a blind eye, immediate steps are underway, and long-term drainage upgrades are in the pipeline.” it added.
All the 441 families (1,612 individuals) evacuated in Bacolod City had since returned home and received emergency aid consisting of food packs and other essential supplies, the mayor said.
Among those rescued by city firefighters at the height of the flood early on Saturday were six nuns, the oldest being 89, from their Blessed Virgin Missionaries of Carmel home in Barangay 1.
Unclog drainways
In Talisay City, where 15,605 individuals from 3,121 families had to be evacuated from 16 flooded barangays and where eight houses were destroyed, the local government will again clean drainages to ensure the system is cleared of garbage, waste and debris, said Mayor Rowena Lizares.
“Because of the increased amount of rain, water coming from the mountains has added to the depth of our river. High tides also prevent our drainages from emptying properly,” she explained.
She said the city’s Matab-ang River would be the first to be dredged to prevent it from overflowing.
She said she also planned to meet with Department of Public Works and Highways officials in the city and province to investigate what caused the recent highway flooding.
Like in Bacolod, the evacuated individuals in Talisay City have since returned home and also received food and rice packs, said City Social Welfare Officer Dionela Madrona.
Madrona noted that the heavy rain began at 9:05 p.m. on Friday and continued past midnight, coinciding with a high tide at 1 a.m. on Saturday. INQ.
