By CESAR JOLITO III

The Bacolod City council has called on Mayor Greg Gasataya to immediately convene the Local Zoning Review Committee (LZRC) and the Local Zoning Board of Appeals (LZBA), stressing the need to keep the city’s land use policies responsive to rapid urban development.

Councilor Al Victor Espino, who chairs the council’s Committee on Urban Planning, warned that the delays in activating the two bodies could lead to gaps in implementing the city’s Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) and Zoning Ordinance.

These measures serve as Bacolod’s blueprint for orderly growth, sustainable development and the protection of community welfare.

“The LZRC is mandated to review and evaluate the CLUP, address implementation issues and recommend amendments to ensure our policies remain inclusive, climate-resilient and aligned with current development trends,” Espino said.

He explained that the LZBA, meanwhile, plays a critical role in ensuring due process by deciding on zoning appeals, variances and exceptions — functions that directly affect both investors and residents.

“By convening the LZBA, we provide a fair and transparent venue for resolving zoning-related disputes. This not only protects community rights but also boosts investor confidence,” he added.

Under the Local Government Code of 1991 and the city’s zoning rules, the mayor serves as chair of both the LZRC and LZBA, or may designate a representative.

Espino said the executive is in the best position to activate the committees and mobilize the needed technical and secretariat support from concerned departments./CJ, WDJ