By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson yesterday expressed hopes the bill creating the Metropolitan Bacolod Development Authority (MBDA) passes. The bill was recently refiled by Bacolod City lone district Rep. Greg Gasataya. Earlier version of the same bill were filed in 2017 by Gasataya and in 2016, when Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia served as congressman.
According to the governor, the plan, which would cluster Bacolod City, Bago City, Silay City, Talisay City, and Murcia into a special development and administrative unit, has been discussed in the past and compared it to the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA).
“It’s a turn in the right direction,” Lacson said.
According to the previous legislation, “The MBDA shall perform planning, monitoring, and coordinative functions.”
The 2017 bill indicated the MBDA would be involved in development planning, transport and traffic management, solid waste disposal and sewage management, urban renewal, zoning, health and sanitation, public safety, among other matters.
Meanwhile, the National Economic Development Authority-Region VI recently revealed a masterplan for a proposed Metropolitan Bacolod is currently in the works and is expected to be included in the 2020 budget.
According to Gasataya, “This will also be a big help in addressing woes on traffic congestion and waste management.”/DGB, WDJ