Acting Regional Manager Ali S. Satol belies claims that the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) irrigation canal of the Siluay-Buayan River Irrigation Systems located at General Santos City was to be blamed for the recent flooding that hit Baluan, Lagao, San Isidro, Bula, and Mabuhay in that city.

The increased dependence on irrigation canal has not been without its negative environmental effect. It proved right when the water, during heavy downpour, from the mountains surrounding Gensan directly goes to the rivers feeding Siluay River Irrigation System and Buayan River Irrigation System dams which then pass through irrigation canals overflowed because these canals are designed for irrigation.

There are no drainage canals in the city so all the water coming from the mountains traverse irrigation canals, and these are not big enough to accommodate all the water crossing. Acting RM Satol added that NIA irrigation canals did not cause the flooding per se. It is then highly recommended that if there is a drainage master plan of the local government then it should be implemented soon.

Every time the rain falls, the protocol was that the gatekeeper opens the sluice gate to allow the water going to the canals and to avoid damage to irrigation structures.

Likewise, during high tide, water from Sarangani Bay enters the vicinity and with this NIA suggests constructing pumping stations to control flooding.