The city government here has outlined its immediate economic recovery plan from the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic through increased government spending on infrastructure to create more jobs and livelihood opportunities.
Mayor Evelio Leonardia bared in a statement on Tuesday that PHP3 billion worth of local and national government-funded projects are being implemented while others will start soon.
“For the immediate term, we need to see increased government spending in the infrastructure sector to give more jobs and create more livelihood opportunities for Bacolodnons. This is one of the major thrusts of the city’s economic recovery plan,” he added.
Ongoing projects include the PHP350-million new Bacolod City College development; P350-million continued development of the Bacolod Relocation Site; PHP150-million rehabilitation of the Libertad Public Market, Burgos Public Market and Central Market; PHP800-million Bacolod MassKara Coliseum; and PHP260-million Bacolod Museum.
The rehabilitation of the city’s three major markets is being funded by an appropriation from the Local Government Support Fund while the museum construction budget was sourced by Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri.
“All these government spending will boil down to employment opportunities for our beloved Bacolodnons,” the mayor said.
Leonardia added the city government will embark on an aggressive marketing campaign to attract new investments to reach the same level of economic dynamism Bacolod had achieved before the pandemic.
“The city’s economy saw its fastest growth ever with over 25,000 business registrants before the health crisis was declared,” he said.
Bacolod has been recognized twice as the Most Business-Friendly Local Government Unit in the highly-urbanized city category in 2007 and 2021 by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Still, Leonardia reminded Bacolodnons that while Covid-19 cases are decreasing, they should not let their guard down because the health crisis is not over yet.
The mayor called on the unvaccinated to get their Covid-19 jabs and those fully inoculated to avail of booster shots to have more protection from the virus.
“Continue observing minimum health protocols,” he told Bacolodnons. (PNA)
