BACOLOD City — The Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) has assured the Bacolod City Government that the long-delayed redevelopment projects at the Bacolod Public Plaza and the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC) will be completed by September or October this year.
The commitment came after Mayor Greg Gasataya earlier urged TIEZA to expedite the completion of the P300-million tourism infrastructure projects, citing delays and the perceived lack of urgency in finishing the developments.
Engr. Amelita S. Caganda, manager of TIEZA’s Construction Management Department, said major components of both projects have already been installed and construction remains on track despite minor structural adjustments.
“Construction is progressing smoothly. We are currently reviewing some structural design aspects, but our target completion date is either September or October,” Caganda said during a meeting with city officials on Friday.
Caganda, together with members of TIEZA’s technical team, met with Secretary to the Mayor Atty. Jose Marty Go, City Engineer Lobel Rafael Ceballos, and Officer-in-Charge of the Office of the Building Official Engr. Amy Tentia to provide updates on the status of the projects.
The meeting came days after Gasataya expressed concern over the prolonged implementation of the projects, noting that these should have been completed last year.
“For them, there is no sense of urgency. The project should have been completed last year,” the mayor earlier said in a media interview, adding that he would seek dialogue with TIEZA to address the delays.
According to Caganda, installation of lighting fixtures at the Heritage Plaza has already been completed, while electrical works, panel board installations, and fountain head installation are still ongoing.
“For the plaza, the lighting fixtures have already been installed. We are now completing the electrical wiring, and installation of the fountain heads is ongoing,” she said.
At the BCGC, work continues on the fountain and pool area, where engineers are addressing minor structural modifications identified during construction.
“Work on the pool area is ongoing. We only encountered minor structural changes that are now being addressed,” Caganda added.
City Engineer Ceballos said several electrical requirements still need to be completed to ensure the facilities are fully operational once construction is finished.
The redevelopment project, funded by TIEZA, aims to transform two of Bacolod’s major public landmarks through upgraded landscaping, modern lighting systems, enhanced water features, and improved public amenities.
Of the P300-million budget, about P80 million is allocated for improvements at the Bacolod Public Plaza, including its fountains, lighting fixtures, and comfort rooms, while P220 million is earmarked for the BCGC fountain redevelopment.
Officials said a power connection is required to operate the upgraded fountain system, which was reportedly not included in the original project scope, prompting discussions on securing additional funding for electrical infrastructure.
Gasataya, however, stressed that all project requirements should have been fully identified during the planning stage to avoid implementation delays.
Once completed, the BCGC fountain will feature synchronized lights and music, along with a drainage system that will allow the area to be converted into an open event space, similar to interactive fountain attractions in Singapore, the United States, and parts of Europe.
The redevelopment project began last year./PN
