BACOLOD City – The Bacolod City Government has created a dedicated management and enforcement team to oversee the regulation, maintenance, and preservation of public plazas, parks, and other recreational areas in the city.
City Administrator Atty. Mark Steven Mayo said the move is in line with Executive Order (EO) No. 045, Series of 2025, which constituted the Bacolod City Plaza and Parks System Management Board (BCPSMB), also known as the Plaza and Parks Management Board.
Mayo said the board recently convened and approved a resolution creating the Plaza and Parks Management Team, which will serve as the implementing and enforcement arm of the BCPSMB.
“The team will ensure the proper implementation of policies and regulations governing plazas, parks, and other public recreational spaces in the city,” Mayo said.
The EO cited Article II, Section 16 of the 1987 Constitution, which mandates the State to protect and advance the people’s right to a balanced and healthful ecology.
It also referenced Section 17 of Republic Act No. 7160, or the Local Government Code of 1991, which authorizes local government units to provide and manage public facilities such as parks, plazas, playgrounds, sports facilities, and other recreational areas for the general welfare of the public.
The creation of the board was institutionalized through City Ordinance No. 1046, Series of 2023, which established the BCPSMB as the city’s primary policymaking and coordinating body tasked with overseeing the preservation, development, maintenance, and sustainable management of Bacolod’s plazas, parks, gardens, and open spaces.
Under the EO, Mayor Greg Gasataya chairs the board, while Mayo serves as co-chairperson.
Mayo added that the board also approved a separate resolution establishing house rules for the Bacolod Public Plaza and other public parks.
Under the proposed regulations, sleeping, parking, camping, cooking, and other unauthorized activities within plaza and park premises are prohibited.
The resolution likewise provides for the deployment of private security guards at the Bacolod Public Plaza to strengthen security, enforce regulations, and maintain cleanliness and order in the area.
City officials said the initiative aims to promote the sustainable use of public recreational spaces while preserving their cultural, historical, environmental, and social significance for future generations./PN
