Residents of puroks Bayanihan and Balaha-an in Barangay Banilad, Dumaguete, are appealing to the city government to help them solve the severe flooding problem in their area, especially during heavy rains.

This was after a recent forum on the matter held by the barangay council, led by chairman Jose Pino, and attended by affected residents and Nida Caro and Willie Oira of the City Engineers Office.

The residents complained that when tropical storm “Sendong” hit the barangay, the Banilad-Bajumpandan loop road was covered with floodwater, and this destroyed properties and put lives at risk.

Barangay kagawad Jory Bandian said that, based on an initial survey, the floodwater comes from the mountains of Valencia that flows through the creek. But the creek has dried up for several years now, so houses were built in the dried-up stream, and this diverted floodwater to the road.

Sr. Supt Rey Lyndon Lawas, a resident of Purok Bayanihan, said there should be a complete survey to guide the city in addressing the flooding problem.

Residents also asked the barangay council to take advantage of the summer months for the survey of the Banilad creek.

The need to have an updated map of all the waterways in Dumaguete was also pointed out in the forum.

Dinoo Ramacho, a resident of Banilad and a professor of the Negros Oriental State University, said geodetic engineers from their College of Engineering and Architect are willing to assist in the survey.*MA

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