• CHERYL G. CRUZ
The Bacolod local government will spearhead a business summit at L’Fisher Hotel on Feb. 7, to present its masterplan for the highly-urbanized city, Mayor Alfredo Benitez said in a press briefing Feb. 3.
Benitez said the summit is an open invitation to all business establishments, investors, and those interested to learn the city’s plans on land use, infra projects, and future road networks, among others.
“The summit will showcase our masterplan for the city,” the mayor said, adding that all inputs will be incorporated in the Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) of Bacolod.
He said there are plans to improve south Bacolod, especially with the intention of SM Prime Holdings to develop its 20-hectare property at the old airport into a mixed-use township.
Hans Sy of SM Prime, in his visit to Bacolod last week, announced that the area will become “an urban oasis (with) a new upscale shopping and lifestyle center, BPOs, and other commercial projects that the business sector and the city will surely benefit from.”
Benitez also presented to Sy an “eco-friendly urban expansion” of the area, and proposed to transform the old airport site into a mixed-use eco-industrial district near the Magsungay River and Sapang Manliit.
“This development will feature green office spaces, low-energy residential areas, and spaces for agri-tech startups. A waterfront park along Lupit River will promote recreation and environmental awareness, while bioswales will be used to manage stormwater runoff,” the proposal states.
“This mixed-use zone will harmonize industrial activity with residential quality of life, while preserving the river ecosystem,” it added.
The city is also proposing long-term tax relief for green-certified buildings and sustainable businesses, and to promote public-private partnerships for large infrastructure projects, ensuring that development is eco-friendly and aligned with sustainability goals. | CGC
