"THIS is Bacolod today—competitive, rising, and ready to lead.”
This was what outgoing Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said as he delivered his third and final State of the City Address (Soca) on June 25, 2025, at the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC) grounds.
Benitez said when he assumed office in 2022, he felt a City that was lethargic, stagnant, and bereft of clear direction.
“Change was needed, so we made a pledge to sweep away inefficiencies, to challenge complacency, and to always put people first. Three years on, that pledge has become performance,” he said.
He added that the state of the city is no longer a question, it is a proud answer.
The mayor noted that Bacolod is now in a season of “adopting”—reinventing itself as a resilient, forward-looking community that refuses to settle for “pwede na.”
“Yes, the road was rough. But every resistance proved one thing: real change was happening,” Benitez said.
Governance
He said this has been proven by the numerous recognitions and awards Bacolod City has received for various aspects of governance and public service.
“I believe this is most number of awards Bacolod has ever received in a single term. But these are not just plaques and titles—they are proof that our reforms are working, and that Bacolod is on the right path,” he added.
Benitez also cited various programs and projects implemented in the city, including clean governance, city roads and asphalt overlays, the removal of spaghetti wires, peace and order initiatives, the reorganization of City Hall to increase efficiency, the installation of solar streetlights, the Bacolod Comprehensive Health Program (BacCHP), improvements to public markets, the Bayad Agad program, the Yuhum housing program, employment initiatives, the Bacolod MassKara Coliseum, the Command Center, the General Hospital, the Legislative Building, the rehabilitation of the Old City Hall, drainage systems, roads and footwalks, school buildings, among others.
“We checked all the boxes for our eight-point agenda. Having set our foundation and formulated the blueprint, we are now building Bacolod’s future as a Super City: inclusive, progressive, and with a good quality of life,” Benitez said.
He said the city is built on five key pillars: innovation, inclusivity, sustainability, mobility, and culture—foundations of Bacolod as a Super City.
“We attracted over P100 billion in investments and created 30,000 jobs—a clear sign of investor confidence. We supported this by investing in skills development. Bacolod remains a place where you can work, live, and rest well—with affordable living, good schools, and accessible healthcare. We have a healthy environment and good governance,” he added.
'No burden'
The mayor assured that his successor, incoming Mayor Greg Gasataya, is not inheriting a burden.
“You are inheriting a city prepared for growth,” Benitez said.
He also vowed to continue his commitment to the people of Bacolod as the city’s congressman.
“While I may no longer lead Bacolod from the Government Center, I will continue going the extra mile—this time, on the national stage as your Congressman,” Benitez said.
The mayor also expressed his full support for Gasataya, incoming Vice Mayor Claudio Puentevella, and the members of the City Council.
“I will be with you every step of the way. And to my fellow Bacolodnons, my service continues,” he said.
He added that among his eight legislative priorities are the expansion of Bacolod City College for enhanced skills training; the enactment of a data-driven integrated traffic control law; the establishment of long-term flood barriers and pump gates; the development of stronger local government waste-management systems; the allocation of larger budgets for anti-drug education and rehabilitation; reliable power and water oversight; the nationwide implementation of the BacCHP; and a national mandate for fully digital LGU frontline services patterned after Bacolod’s success.
Benitez also expressed his gratitude to all Bacolodnons.
“Three years ago, you trusted me as your Mayor, and now, as your Congressman. To me, these roles are not titles—they are my promise to serve. And as I begin a new chapter of public service, my promise is this: where Bacolod leads, I will follow. Where Bacolod needs, I will speak and advocate. Where Bacolod dreams, I will fight to make it real,” Benitez said. (MAP)