BACOLOD City – Outgoing Mayor Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez signed two key ordinances before officially stepping down from office at noon today, June 30.
In his final State of the City Address (SOCA) delivered on June 25, now Congressman-elect Benitez announced the signing of the Underground Cabling Ordinance and the Walkability Ordinance, both aimed at promoting safer and more sustainable urban development in Bacolod City.
“These ordinances lay the groundwork for a future-ready Bacolod — one that is safer, more accessible, and responsive to the needs of our citizens,” Benitez said.
The Underground Cabling Ordinance, authored by Councilor and Vice Mayor-elect Claudio Jesus “Kalaw” Puentevella, mandates power, telecommunications, and cable companies to comply with national standards — including the Philippine Electrical Code, Philippine Electronics Code, and the National Building Code — in the installation and maintenance of underground wires, cables, and related infrastructure.
The ordinance aims to minimize deaths caused by accidental contact with live wires, reduce fire incidents due to overloading, and prevent theft and pilferage of utility lines. It also seeks to protect infrastructure during natural calamities by reducing exposure to the elements.
“The local government commits to extensive stakeholder consultations to lessen the financial impact on utility companies, including phasing the project implementation,” Puentevella said. “The goal is to make Bacolod’s public utilities more adaptive to modern technologies and resilient to disruptions caused by disasters.”
The initiative complements an earlier move by Negros Electric and Power Corp. (Negros Power), which launched a pilot Underground Distribution System (UDS) project on November 13, 2024, at the Capitol Lagoon in the city. Phase 1 of the project is currently underway, covering a one-kilometer stretch from Capitol Road to the corner of B.S. Aquino Drive.
Meanwhile, the Walkability Ordinance, authored by re-electionist Councilor Em Ang, promotes pedestrian-friendly infrastructure across the city.
“Walking is the simplest, most sustainable, and most affordable mode of transport,” Ang said. “Yet, studies show that people today walk an average of only 200 kilometers per year — or just seven minutes per day — while we drive seven times more.”
She emphasized that improving walkability not only encourages healthy lifestyles but also significantly reduces carbon emissions and enhances overall urban livability.
“Walkability is often seen merely as a leisure activity, but it’s time we embrace walking as a key component of sustainable urban mobility,” she added.
Both ordinances reflect the city’s ongoing push toward modernization, safety, and sustainability, as the new administration prepares to take over governance./PN
