ILOILO CITY, Philippines — Problems besetting Iloilo River in Iloilo City have spilled into neighboring Oton town.

At the recent 1st Batiano River Summit held here recently, Oton Mayor Vicente Flores disclosed that recent massive flooding in the town is an offshoot of the Iloilo River environmental mess.

“The frequent flooding that occurs in our town is caused by siltation and constriction along Batiano River,” Flores said, referring to the 13-kilometer Batiano River which interconnects with the 15-kilometer Iloilo River running through the heart of Iloilo City.

Flores explained that during high tide, water from the Iloilo River overflows to Oton town.

He added that with the encroachment of illegal structures including informal settlers and illegal fish pens in both sides of the river, the natural flow of water is blocked.

Last August, water overflowed and caused Oton town to be submerged twice.

The worse occurence was the flood last August 27, 2011 which victimized 2,176 families or 12,963 people in 20 barangays in Oton. It also affected 150 hectares of rice fields, 55 hectares of brackish water ponds, and 10 hectares of freshwater ponds.

On the side of Iloilo City, both river systems contribute to massive flooding and displacement of people in Arevalo and Mandurriao districts during rainy season.

“We’re seeing the worst environmental and socio-economic impacts,” Flores said.

The Oton government, in collaboration with the Iloilo River Development Council (IRDC), the Metro Iloilo Guimaras Development Council (MIGEDC), the Iloilo City government, and other government agencies will embark on various immediate actions to ease said adverse impacts.