Bacolod City Boosts Disaster Preparedness With DOST Partnership for Localized Flood Early Warning System

October 28, 2025

Mayor Greg Gasataya, together with City Administrator Mark Mayo and DOST Secretary Dr. Renato Solidum Jr., leads the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) during the opening of “Handa Pilipinas: Innovations in Climate and Disaster Resilience Nationwide Exposition 2025” – Visayas Leg, held at the SMX Convention Center.*

In a move to bolster its disaster readiness, the Bacolod City Government formalized a partnership with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) today to establish a Community-based Flood Early Warning System (CBFEWS).

Mayor Greg Gasataya and DOST Secretary Dr. Renato Solidum Jr. signed the memorandum of agreement (MOA) during Monday’s opening of the “Handa Pilipinas: Innovations in Climate and Disaster Resilience Nationwide Exposition 2025” Visayas leg, hosted at the SMX Convention Center.

The signing ceremony was attended by Bacolod Administrator Atty. Mark Steven Mayo and Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Lacson, along with other officials from across the Visayas region.

The CBFEWS initiative aims to deliver timely, localized alerts to flood-prone communities. By using monitoring stations to gather real-time data on rainfall and river levels, the system will enable the city government to issue early warnings, giving residents crucial time to prepare and evacuate.

“In urban areas like Bacolod, time is very, very important,” Mayor Greg Gasataya said. He stressed the importance of “solid, data-based, and science-driven decisions,” adding that this partnership would allow Bacolod to use its own localized information for quicker disaster response, rather than relying on data from other regions.

DOST and PAG-ASA will install seven river monitoring systems and nine rain monitoring systems in strategic locations throughout the city.

In his keynote address, DOST Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. emphasized the importance of proactive measures. “Disaster risk reduction begins with accurate, timely, and localized data,” Secretary Solidum said. “Without a clear understanding of the risks unique to each community, planning and preparation become reactive instead of proactive.”

The Handa Pilipinas expo highlights Filipino innovations in climate and disaster resilience.

The MOA signing highlights the commitment of Bacolod and DOST to use science and technology to protect lives and property, building a more resilient Bacolod City.* (BCCO)