Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said the rehabilitation work in the Bacolod Public Plaza and the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC) grounds will start this month.
The projects, funded by the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), will have a total budget of P300 million, Benitez said.
P80 million will be allocated for the public plaza, which will improve the fountain and other facilities, while P220 million has been set aside for the renovation of the BCGC grounds.
TIEZA completed the bidding process in December and is now mobilizing the project, Benitez said.
He added that the projects are expected to be completed in three to four months.
“Hopefully, we can restore the public plaza as a place where people can gather,” he said.
The upgraded plaza will feature dancing lights, making it a tourist attraction similar to those in Japan and Singapore.
Benitez said the concept is inspired by an international art collective that uses light and music to create immersive experiences.
When asked about existing vendors around the plaza, Benitez said the city will evaluate how to regulate them./WDJ