BACOLOD City – Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez is set to deliver his second State of the City Address (SOCA) today, July 3, at the Bacolod City Government Center in Barangay Villamonte.
Scheduled to begin at 5 p.m., the address will recap the city’s developments over the past year and outline future initiatives.
In preparation, Benitez remarked humorously in a media interview yesterday about his readiness for the event, saying, “I’ll sleep early to be fresh for the afternoon.”
This year’s SOCA promises enhancements, including the hiring of a director to oversee the proceedings, contrasting with last year’s setup.
Government employees and stakeholders have been invited, but Benitez emphasized that the residents of Bacolod City are the special guests.
During last year’s address, highlights included negotiating a P4.4-billion loan with the Development Bank of the Philippines to finance a broad infrastructure initiative aimed at revitalizing the city’s economy. The projects funded by this loan encompassed road works, market renovations, the construction of “super” health centers, a recycling facility, solar power projects, and new government buildings.
Notably, the construction of a P515-million four-story legislative building is currently underway behind the city government center.
Additionally, the city has introduced a weight-based billing system for garbage collection, transitioning from the fixed-fee arrangement, in collaboration with IPM-Construction and Development Corp.
Benitez also pushed for significant reforms in traffic management, urging the City Council to transform the Bacolod Traffic Authority Office into a fully-fledged department equipped with more staff and a larger budget to tackle the escalating traffic challenges.
Last month, the City Council passed the Bacolod Traffic and Transport Management Department ordinance on its third and final reading, enhancing and reorganizing traffic management in the city.
Ongoing projects such as housing initiatives and the Bacolod Comprehensive Health Program (BacCHP) will also be featured in this year’s address.
Mayor Benitez aims to cover all facets of city governance in his speech, reflecting on past achievements and setting the direction for future developments./PN
