The Environmental Management Bureau (EMB)-7 will conduct a public hearing on Saturday to craft measures that would avert flooding in Loboc as a possible result of water release in the Sevilla Hydropower Dam amid heavy rains.

Authorities will implement protocol changes at the Sevilla dam following the intense flooding in Loboc as Typhoon Seniang lashed Bohol in 2014.

The release of water from the dam amid the typhoon purportedly inundated the neighboring town of Loboc affecting almost 1,000 residents from 11 barangays in the municipality.

Together with the EMB, members of the Council for the People of Loboc and Loay will come up with measures that would avert the same incident as heavy rains start to hit Bohol.

Attorney Love Amoroso a member of said council told DYRD Balita that it is possible that there was a lapse in the implementation of protocol in the release of water from the hydropower dam as Seniang inundated several parts of Bohol.

According to Amoroso, the public hearing will also be attended by officials of the Bohol Electric Cooperative (BOHECO 1), Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and Loboc officials and residents.

Amoroso said that the BOHECO-1 which manages the hydropower dam in Sevilla will create a joint agreement with the Loboc government and residents who were affected by the incident.

Typhoon Seniang hit Bohol in late December of 2014 dumping torrential rains in the province.

The typhoon left at least 35 people from various regions dead and scores injured. (Allen Doydora)

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