• CHERYL G. CRUZ
Around P2.41 billion, or 57.88 percent, of the P4.171 billion loan secured by the Bacolod city government from the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) in 2023 has been disbursed, as of Sept. 30, 2026, per the joint committee report adopted by the Sangguniang Panlungsod Oct. 21.
The loan facility secured during the term of then Mayor Alfredo Benitez was intended to finance 17 priority capital and development projects, covering land acquisition, civic buildings, roads, drainage, healthcare, environmental sustainability, and other public facilities, councilors Jude Thaddeus Sayson, Caesar Distrito, and Al Victor Espino said in their joint committee report.
Of the 17 projects, the P25 million traffic light project, the road network allotted P171 million, and the P10 million asphalt overlay logged a 100 percent accomplishment, per the July accomplishment report of the City Engineer’s Office.
Other projects and their status include the construction of a city motor pool allotted P30.8 million, 92 percent accomplished; landbanking, P1.5 billion, 91.87 percent; solar power generating system, P100 million, 90.94 percent; drainage projects, P168.5 million, 86.67 percent;
City warehouse, allocated P67.9 million and 85 percent complete; City Health Complex, P280 million, 70.83 percent; construction of legislative building, P765 million, 51.19 percent; and old City Hall rehabilitation, P413 million, with a 48.68 percent accomplishment.
“These projects are designed as capital investments and development strategies to pump-prime the economy towards full recovery from a three-year pandemic and consequently, drive growth and development,” Sayson, Distrito, and Espino said in their report.
The three are chairpersons of the SP committees on Appropriations and Finance, on Government Assets, and on Laws, Ordinances and Good Government, respectively, tasked per Resolution 867-2026 to do a comprehensive review, in coordination with concerned offices, of the status of all loans obtained by the city government, including the amounts borrowed, released, utilized, and project implementation, and to report to the SP.
Sayson told his colleagues during their session Oct. 21 that the joint report is considered partial as it does not include the P1.7 billion loans also secured from the DBP before the term of Benitez.
He said he will submit a separate report once all documents and supporting papers are complete. | CGC
