BACOLOD City — The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) has urged the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) and the contractor of the Bacolod Public Plaza redevelopment project to submit a full written disclosure on the project’s plans, construction status, and compliance with heritage-protection laws.
The call followed the SP’s approval on October 5 of a proposed resolution authored by Councilor Wilson Gamboa Jr., chairman of the SP Committees on Human Rights and History and Veterans Affairs.
The resolution, as amended, directs the Department of Tourism (DOT), represented by Secretary Dita Angara-Mathay; TIEZA, represented by Chief Operating Officer Mark Lapid; and contractor Amigo Entertainment Technologies Inc. to provide information on the project’s processes, plans, construction and renovation status, and compliance with contracts, laws, city ordinances, and historical and cultural requirements.
Gamboa said the SP needs a clear blueprint or step-by-step master plan showing how the redevelopment is being implemented while complying with requirements governing a protected heritage site.
The Bacolod Public Plaza is among the tourism infrastructure projects funded by TIEZA in the city. Of the P300-million tourism infrastructure allocation, P80 million was earmarked for the plaza redevelopment, while P220 million was allocated for the redevelopment of the fountain area at the Bacolod City Government Center.
The plaza project includes the restoration and renovation of four historic fountains, installation of modern and interactive lighting systems, hardscaping, electrical improvements, and landscaping.
However, concerns have been raised over the project’s implementation, including construction issues, delays, and the quality of work.
The resolution noted that Mayor Greg Gasataya had previously raised concerns over reported construction deficiencies, while Bacolod Lone District Rep. and Deputy Speaker Alfredo Abelardo Benitez stressed that the completed project should conform to the plans and proposals presented and approved.
The SP measure also emphasized compliance with Bacolod City Ordinance 08-15-731, Series of 2015, which declared the Bacolod Public Plaza a National Historical Landmark and requires its preservation in accordance with the guidelines of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP).
Under the ordinance, no new structures or alterations to existing structures within the protected historical area may be undertaken without the express approval of the NHCP.
Gamboa said the public deserves transparency on how the redevelopment is being carried out, particularly because the plaza is not only a tourism facility but also a site of historical and cultural significance to Bacolod.
He said efforts to enhance the plaza as a tourism destination should be balanced with the obligation to preserve its historical character and comply with applicable laws and regulations.
The resolution effectively calls on the DOT and TIEZA to provide the city government with a clear accounting of the project’s implementation and demonstrate that the redevelopment remains consistent with the approved plans and heritage-protection requirements.
Gamboa said transparency and compliance are essential as the city moves toward the completion and eventual turnover of the redeveloped public plaza./PN
