Bacolod’s vision of becoming a circular, resilient, and inclusive city by 2030 received a boost as representatives from the European Union (EU) and the European business community met with local leaders June 9 to explore partnerships in sustainability, green investments, and economic development.
The visiting delegation was led by Dawn Marie Cabigon of the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) and Tsvetomir Svilenov, program manager of the EU-Philippines Green Economy Partnership under the EU Delegation to the Philippines.
Mayor Greg Gasataya welcomed the delegation, together with city officials, national government representatives, business leaders, and members of the academe during an investment and economic dialogue at the Bacolod City Government Center.
“When I was young, someone gave me a shirt with a message that stayed with me: ‘The environment was not inherited from our parents; it was borrowed from our children.’ If we can open our hearts and minds to this responsibility, that alone is already a significant victory for our city,” the mayor said.
Gasataya emphasized the city’s commitment to sustainability through initiatives, such as solar energy projects in government facilities, energy-efficiency programs, and support for cleaner transportation, including the use of electronic patrol vehicles.
“We are committed to making this partnership count. We want to ensure that future generations will continue to enjoy the Bacolod we know today. We cannot do this alone, but together, we are stronger,” he said in a city press release.
Mae Llamas, head of the Department of Local Economic Development and Investment Promotions (DLEDIP), presented the city’s investment framework, “Bacolod 2030: Investing in a Circular, Resilient, and Inclusive Future”. The roadmap highlights opportunities in health, agriculture, education, employment, tourism, transportation, renewable energy, green businesses, and climate resilience.
Svilenov praised Bacolod’s sustainability agenda and described the city as a promising partner in advancing green economy initiatives.
“It is a real privilege to visit you because our work is all about partnership and sustainability,” he said. “The biggest value of our partnership is the opportunity to work at the local level.”
Having worked with several local government units nationwide, Svilenov noted that Bacolod stands out for its leadership and willingness to pursue transformative solutions. “It is inspiring to see the courage, motivation, and energy of local leaders working every day to build a better future and a healthier environment for their communities.”
He also commended the city’s investment roadmap and stressed the importance of collaboration among government, development partners, and the private sector.
Svilenov recognized Gasataya as one of the local leaders the organization hopes to work with more closely in the future. “We want to work with champions, and we regard you as one of the champion mayors with whom we would like to collaborate more intensively as we expand our activities.”
Cabigon likewise expressed ECCP’s readiness to help promote Bacolod’s investment opportunities to European businesses and investors.
She encouraged the city to pursue business missions in Europe and strengthen engagement with potential investors, noting that ECCP can facilitate business-to-business partnerships across various industries.
“Your plans for business missions in Europe are worth pursuing. We can help facilitate business engagements across many sectors, particularly food and tourism, which are among the industries we represent,” she told city officials.
The engagement marked another step in Bacolod’s efforts to position itself as a premier investment destination while advancing sustainability, innovation, and inclusive economic growth, the city said.
Through stronger collaboration with the European Union and ECCP, the city aims to attract investments, create jobs, strengthen local industries, and build a greener, more resilient future for Bacolodnons, it added. ||
