The Bacolod City government has started clearing a major waterway by using an amphibious dredger borrowed from the Philippines Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Mayor Greg Gasataya said that the massive clearing and desilting of the Mandalagan River is ongoing to restore and rehabilitate the waterway to its full capacity.
“ When the river is restored, it will have an immediate impact in reducing risks of water build-up in a large portion of Bacolod City, especially in the north ,” Gasataya said.
Located in the northern part of the city, the Mandalagan River serves as the main catchment for eight tributary creeks across Barangays 1, Mandalagan, Estefania, Bata, Villamonte, and Montevista.
The dredging work is expected to remove 20,000 cubic meters of silt from the river.