BACOLOD City — The Bacolod City Government has implemented stricter regulations at the Bacolod Public Plaza to ensure the safety, security, and orderliness of one of the city’s busiest public spaces.
City Administrator Atty. Mark Steven Mayo said he issued a memorandum on June 19 directing the City Legal Office (CLO), Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD), General Services Office (GSO), and Public Order and Safety Office (POSO) to enforce tighter regulations within the plaza.
The memorandum also calls for closer coordination with Bacolod City Police Station 1 to enhance police visibility and strengthen crime prevention efforts.
Under the new rules, loitering within and around the public plaza is prohibited. Smoking is likewise banned in all areas of the plaza.
The city government has also prohibited individuals from roaming the plaza without proper upper-body clothing to promote decency and respect in a public space.
Authorities will intensify anti-mendicancy operations through the DSSD’s Anti-Mendicancy Task Force, while security measures and police presence will be further strengthened to deter criminal activities and other undesirable incidents.
“The City Government, under the leadership of Mayor Greg Gasataya, is firm in its commitment to maintaining the Bacolod Public Plaza as a peaceful, secure, and disciplined public space. Activities that may endanger or inconvenience the public will not be tolerated,” Mayo said.
He also appealed to the public to cooperate with and comply with the regulations, emphasizing that preserving the cleanliness, safety, and orderliness of the plaza is a shared responsibility.
The stricter measures were implemented following an alleged robbery incident that surfaced on social media. A woman claimed she was robbed by three unidentified suspects, including a female accomplice, while passing through the plaza.
According to the woman, she was walking across the plaza at around noon on June 14 on her way home when she was allegedly followed, cornered, and robbed of her belongings, including her wristwatch.
City officials said six security guards and several POSO personnel are regularly deployed at the plaza. However, none reportedly witnessed the alleged incident or received an immediate report from the supposed victim.
Police Station 1 is also located directly across the plaza along San Juan Street, underscoring the city’s existing security presence in the area.
City officials reiterated their commitment to ensuring the safety of residents and visitors while preserving the Bacolod Public Plaza as a safe, orderly, and welcoming public space for everyone./PN
