BACOLOD City — The Bacolod City Government will kick off a series of public hearings today, July 7, for the proposed Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) 2027-2038, a key step in formulating the city’s long-term blueprint for growth, development, and land use.
The three-day consultation, organized by the Bacolod City Public Hearing/Consultation Board, aims to gather comments, recommendations, and position papers from stakeholders before the plan is finalized and adopted.
The first public hearing is scheduled at 9 a.m. on July 7 at the lobby of the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC), with representatives from barangays and government agencies expected to participate.
On July 9 at 3 p.m., the city will conduct consultations with property owners from the agricultural, residential, commercial, industrial, and institutional sectors.
The final day of consultations on July 10 will begin at 9 a.m. with the youth sector, followed at 2 p.m. by dialogues with sectoral organizations, civil society organizations, non-government organizations, utility providers, the transportation sector, the academe, and the business community.
Councilor Al Victor Espino, chairperson of the Sangguniang Panlungsod Committee on Urban Planning and Development, said the consultations are intended to ensure that the proposed CLUP reflects the needs and aspirations of Bacolod residents through an inclusive and participatory planning process.
“The public hearings will allow stakeholders to share their perspectives and concerns on land use, including agricultural, residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, public recreation and open spaces, agri-industrial development, infrastructure, transportation, and other issues affecting the city’s growth, sustainability, and resilience,” Espino said.
He encouraged stakeholders to actively participate in the consultations and submit position papers, together with vicinity maps and other supporting documents, within 15 days after the public hearing. The submissions will be reviewed and evaluated by the Bacolod City Public Hearing/Consultation Board.
Espino said the CLUP serves as the city’s primary planning document and will guide land use policies and development priorities over the next decade.
“Once the Comprehensive Land Use Plan is finalized, the Sangguniang Panlungsod will adopt it. After its adoption, we can formulate a new zoning ordinance for the city based on the approved land use plan,” he said.
Residents and other stakeholders may direct inquiries to the City Planning and Development Office through its email address, cpdobacolod@gmail.com, or by calling 434-3184.
The city government emphasized that broad public participation is vital to ensuring that the proposed Comprehensive Land Use Plan reflects the collective vision of a sustainable, resilient, and progressive Bacolod City./PN
