(Photo courtesy of PNA)
BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – Deputy Speaker and Bacolod City Lone District Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez is pushing for the continued implementation of major infrastructure and development projects to sustain the city’s economic growth following its 6.8 percent expansion in 2025.
During a press conference on Friday, Benitez emphasized the need to maintain the city’s economic momentum through strategic investments in infrastructure, digital governance, and public services.
“We want to make sure that we sustain this. We have to continue in sustaining its growth by all of these that we’re doing. My goal (is) to bring Bacolod to new heights, to bring Bacolod to the vision that we put in place for the city. Once all these will materialize, we will see the benefits,” Benitez said.
Data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) last month showed Bacolod’s economy grew by 6.8 percent in 2025, slower than the 7.6 percent expansion recorded in 2024.
The city’s gross domestic product (GDP) increased from Php 157.22 billion in 2024 to Php 167.92 billion in 2025.
Despite the growth, Benitez acknowledged challenges posed by the global oil crisis and international tensions, which could affect economic activity and investment.
“We need to isolate Bacolod so that we will continue to progress. The challenge for us is how to make us still the top growing city in the Visayas. We’re the third (fastest growing economy) in the whole Philippines,” he said.
Among the major initiatives being pursued is the Php 2.1-billion Bacolod Super City Project, which aims to modernize government services and strengthen local revenue collection.
The project is covered by a 10-year Build-Transfer-Maintain (BTM) agreement between the city government and High-Data Infra Corp., signed in early 2025 during Benitez’s term as mayor.
Its first phase focuses on electronic governance, including data validation to establish a more efficient local tax collection system.
The city is also implementing 17 priority capital and development projects financed through a Php 4.17-billion loan facility secured from the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) during Benitez’s administration.
According to a City Council joint committee report adopted on October 21, a total of Php 2.41 billion had been disbursed as of September 30, 2026.
The report described the projects as capital investments intended to stimulate economic recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic and support long-term development.
Among the ongoing projects is the Php 280-million City Health Complex, which was 70.83 percent complete.
Construction of the Php 765-million legislative building had reached 51.19 percent completion, while rehabilitation of the old City Hall, costing Php 413 million, was 48.68 percent complete.
Benitez maintained that completing these projects would help improve public services, strengthen government operations, and support Bacolod’s continued economic expansion in the coming years.