As Bacolod City journeys towards becoming a super city, Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez highlighted the changes that took place under his administration in his State of the City Address held at the Bacolod City Government Center grounds on July 3, 2024.
“We now see the product of our partnership, the fruits of change, the power of our vision,” the mayor said before the members of the City Council led by Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, other local government executives, and barangay officials.
Calling these the “4S of Super City”, the transformation starts in the forging shared values, delivering services, strengthening of strategic industries, and promoting smart solutions thus, ensuring sustainable development.
SHARED VALUES
Benitez said he believes that change starts from within thus, the first order of business when assumed the post in 2022 was to clean house.
“In my administration, there are no longer ghost employees. The job order personnel report to work everyday. We reward those who exert extra effort. Last Monday, we recognize the “Extra Milers”, the employees who do beyond what is required or what is expected,” he said.
Benitez said that he also empowers department heads to initiate plans and programs, and the authority now flows through them, not through executive assistants.
SERVICES
“Under my administration, service is fast and easy. Service delivery has never been more efficient,” he added.
Among the major programs are the Bacolod City Comprehensive Health Program or BacCHP, which now has more than 100,000 registered members and close to 5,000 cardholders have already availed of the service.
The BacCHP has been expanded to include burial assistance through the city’s memorandums of agreement with 11 funeral parlors.
The “Bayad Agad” was launched for the fast release of cash assistance to indigent beneficiaries, who receive the aid in the afternoon once they ask for help in the morning of the same day.
The city is also making arrangements for the voucher system for free medicine, the mayor said.
Another of the Benitez administration’s centerpiece programs is the Asenso Yuhum Housing.
“The construction of the Phase 1 of Asenso Yuhum Residences is near completion, with 296 housing units having pre-qualified beneficiaries under the Pag-IBIG Fund, and ready to move in,” he added.
STRATEGIC INDUSTRIES
Benitez reiterated his reminder to the PrimeWater-Bacolod City Water District (Baciwa).
“I made it very clear: we want 24/7 uninterrupted water supply in all areas that they serve,” he said. “To Baciwa-PrimeWater, gina-bantayan ko kamo (I am watching you). You have targets to accomplish. Make sure to meet your deadlines.”
With the high electricity rate of Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco), Benitez said that he intervened and called the Energy Regulatory Commission to fast track the approval of the power supply agreement between Ceneco and Energy Development Corporation.
In June, there is a decrease in power rate and further reduction is expected the following month, he added.
“We also welcome the entry of Negros Electric and Power Corporation (NEPC) to Bacolod. Their franchise will soon be approved after the bill has been transmitted to the Office of the President last week. We anticipate significant investment for the modernization of our power distribution infrastructure, as promised by NEPC,” he added.
Benitez also mentioned the construction of more iconic infrastructures such as the Legislative Building and City Health Complex and the rehabilitation of the Old City Hall, which will become landmarks symbolic of Bacolod.
On tourism, the Masskara Festival continues to draw crowds here and abroad, and tourist arrivals in 2023 reached 780,000, exceeding the number of tourists in 2022 by 22 percent.
The Bacolod Film Festival was also launched to produce short films that will be screened in September.
Moreover, Benitez said that more investments are expected to come in to Bacolod with the enactment of Republic Act 12000, establishing the Negros Island Region (NIR).
“Bacolod will certainly benefit from the establishment of NIR, which brings government services closer to us,” he said, adding that Department of Local Economic Development and Investment Promotion (DLEDIP) is ready to facilitate the entry of new investors to Bacolod.
SMART SOLUTIONS
The DLEDIP also operates the one-stop-shops, Government Services Express at SM City Bacolod and the Bacolod Express Service Office at Ayala Malls Capitol Central.
The QR (quick response) code makes the business permit issued by the city fool-proof and is part of the proactive and persistent campaign against fixers.
“Because of the changes we are doing, because of our efforts to ease doing business in Bacolod, investor confidence in Bacolod is high. New businesses are locating in Bacolod – which means more revenues for the city government, and more jobs for Bacolodnons,” Benitez said.
Data from the City Treasurer’s Office showed that local taxes, regulatory fees and other charges in 2023 reached P1.4 billion, which is P500 million higher than the collection in 2019.
“In 2024, we are expecting P1.7 billion in local revenues,” the mayor said.
The city’s vibrant economy translates to more job opportunities for Bacolodnons, with the Public Employment Services Office offering 85,090 job positions in 2023, and halfway this year, job vacancies already reached 81,846.
SUSTAINABILITY
“We are utilizing smart innovations to improve delivery of services and accelerate economic development. We are also adopting clean technology to ensure sustainable development and address climate change,” Benitez said.
The program on waste management aims to improve collection and promote recycling.
“We acquired a 25-hectare property in Barangay Felisa, where we will build the Bacolod Integrated Recycling and Teaching Hub, which will include a tree park,” the mayor said.
On flood control, the City Engineer’s Office continues to conduct dredging operations in Bata, Banago, Mambulok, and Purok Boulevard.
“We are also investing P186 million for drainage improvement. We also requested from the Department of Public Works and Highways for a pumping station with floodgate near the Bredco port,” Benitez said.
Other initiatives include the installation of solar panels with 400-kilowatt capacity on the rooftop of the Bacolod City Government Center, green routes that promote the use of electric vehicles, and road clearing by experimenting with other traffic schemes to improve the travel experience of Bacolodnons.
“The elevation of Bacolod Traffic Authority Office into the Bacolod Traffic and Transport Management Department will strengthen enforcement of traffic and parking rules to ease mobility in our major roads,” the mayor said.
The city is also implementing the car-free Sundays along Lacson Street, from 5th Street to Ramos-B.S. Aquino Drive, suspending vehicular traffic from 4 a.m. to 8 a.m. to encourage people to walk, jog and bike.
Benitez said that in May, the first city-wide sports fest was also launched at Panaad Stadium, participated by 17,000 Bacolodnons, making it the biggest local sports event in the city’s history.
MODERN BACOLOD
“We will make Lacson Street the showcase of modern Bacolod. We will make Lacson Street like Orchard Road in Singapore, the Ayala Avenue of Makati,” Benitez said.
To transform Bacolod into a super city, it needs and master plan, he noted.
“We engaged the services of an urban planner to craft our master plan for Bacolod.
Part of it is to develop bioswales along the side of the road to absorb rainwater runoff to mitigate flooding. We will also develop a River Promenade in Mambulok. The master plan also includes the development of a network of agri-hubs to ensure food security and promote agritourism,” the mayor said.
He added that underground electric and telecommunication cable lines will first be implemented along Lacson Street as well, and sidewalks will be reclaimed to become linear parks.
GROUNDWORK LAID
Benitez said that the people’s dream for Bacolod to become a super city may still be far, but the groundwork has already been laid.
“In just two years, we already have proof of concept. We already laid down the groundwork. We have planted the seeds. The state of the city is stronger than ever. But we need to sustain our momentum. Together, let us finish the job. Together, let us fulfill the dream for Bacolod to become a super city,” he added. | NWI
