By CESAR JOLITO III
Bacolod City Mayor Greg Gasataya has directed a technical working group (TWG) to evaluate a proposed amendment that would significantly scale down the Yuhum Housing Project in Barangay Vista Alegre.
The move follows a formal request from project proponent William Russel Scheirman Holdings, Incorporated, which sought to reduce the development from the original 25 residential buildings across three sites to just eight.
The company cited challenges stemming from the ongoing energy crisis as the primary reason for the proposed adjustment.
The housing project, implemented through a joint venture agreement with the city government, is part of Bacolod’s broader effort to address housing needs under the national Pambansang Pabahay Para Sa Pilipino (4PH) program.
To ensure a thorough review, Gasataya issued Executive Order No. 21, creating the TWG, which is tasked to assess the legal, technical, financial, and operational implications of the proposal before any decision is made.
“We need to consider a lot of factors,” Gasataya said, noting that the group has already begun its evaluation.
“The TWG will make the necessary endorsement to the Sangguniang Panlungsod since this involves a joint venture agreement,” he added.
The TWG is chaired by Ma. Victoria Parrenas and includes representatives from key city offices such as the City Legal Office, Office of the Building Official, and the City Engineer’s Office.
The Bacolod Housing Authority will serve as the secretariat, providing administrative and documentation support.
Among its responsibilities, the group will review all relevant documents and validate the proposed changes, ensuring that the city government is guided appropriately in processing the amendment.
The TWG’s findings will play a crucial role in determining whether the proposal will be endorsed to the Sangguniang Panlungsod for approval.
Gasataya emphasized that the authority to approve any amendment rests with the city council, while the executive branch will extend necessary support throughout the process.
The TWG has been given 15 days to submit a consolidated report containing its findings, recommendations, and supporting documents, which will serve as the basis for the city’s next steps on the proposed revision./CJ, WDJ