Sustainable Urbanization Plan for the City of Bacolod

This is a descriptive study utilizing quantitative and qualitative method using interview technique to gather primary data and documentary research to gather secondary data. The performance of the City of Bacolod (first objective of the study) in the areas of concern: Traffic Management, Informal Settlers, Illegal Vendors and Peace and Order were determined and analyzed. The top ten (10) responses in these areas were accounted by assigned “coding,” while those that could not be accounted for by the derived categories or coding were assigned “other”. The findings revealed that 48% of the participants “liked best” the performance of the City in Traffic Management. However, if the percentage of those who “liked least” (42%) is combined with those who “suggested” (10%), there is a total of 52% who neither said that they “liked best” the performance in Traffic Management of the City. In the area of Informal Settlers, it was found that 45% of the participants said that they “liked best” the City’s performance, while 14% “liked least” and 41% made “suggestions.” If participants are combined, there are 55% neither “liked best” the City’s performance in this area. In the area of Illegal Vendors, it was found that the City had very weak or low performance as 73% of the responses said that they “liked least” the City’s performance, while 27% even made “suggestions” on how the City should deal with the problem. In Peace and Order, it was found that 45.5% of the participants said that they “liked best” the City’s performance, while 41% said that they “liked least” and 14% even “suggested” on how to improve the City’s performance. If those who responded “liked least” (41%) and those who “suggested” (14%) are combined, 55% of the responses appeared that they did not “liked best” the performance of the City in Peace and Order area. As to the second and third objectives of this study, an environmental scanning of the external and internal environment of the City of Bacolod was conducted, the results of which were summarized using the Internal Factor Analysis Summary (IFAS) and External Factor Analysis Summary (EFAS) and finally analyzed using the SWOT and TOWS Analysis. The findings and conclusions in Traffic Management are: 1) Strong performance, except during peak hours; the strength is due to the local ordinances such as a) C.O. No. 338, series of 2003; b) C.O. No. 185, series of 1997. 2) Weak performance: Lack of policies/program in the area of driver discipline, value, conduct, safety on top of Land Transportation Office (LTO) policies and programs; had not taken minor steps towards the goal of preventing traffic congestion; short-cut and destination signs are needed to direct drivers out of congestion; several areas remained a problem – traffic problems persist in Lopue’s East, front of Regional Hospital, UNO-R, Gaisano-Singcang, Gatuslao-Luzurriaga and in front of the Cathedral; some city streets are narrow due to stalls/houses already in right of way of the city due to lack of enforcement by the city engineer that tolerated this problem; drivers & traffic enforcers are likened to cat and mouse on the streets. 3) Opportunities: Lacson Street can be decongested - passenger jeepneys should take south-bound from corner of Lacson and 27th street – Calamba to North Capitol Road and back using corner Lacson and North Drive streets to decongest Lacson street; traffic lights’ timing need to be adjusted so that the time for vehicles getting out of the city should have longer time than the time for vehicles coming into the city or downtown area. The findings and conclusions in Informal Settlers area: 1) The City is strong in land banking as many lot owners in the City are now ready for commercial use after relocation; there are quite a number of good ordinances passed like City Ordinance No. 312, series of 2002: Ordinance Governing the Acceptance of donations of Road Lots, Foot-walks, Alleys and Open spaces of All On-Site community Based Socialized Housing Projects in the City of Bacolod; City Ordinance No. 269, series of 2000: Ordinance Defining the Policies Governing the Relocation and Resettlement Projects of Bacolod. 2) The City had notable weaknesses: Many roads lots & creeks continue to be occupied by illegal settlers; lack of System of Registration for socialized housing; owners of lots from the numbered Barangays need to cooperate more; Barangay officials are not tasked in preventing Informal settlers; Urban lot owners must be obliged to share thru a policy of putting up barb wires around the premises of their properties. 3) There are still opportunities seen such as: “Lot owners with informal settlers should already file eviction cases in court”; “Need to regulate informal settlers or to pass an ordinance that would require lot owners to certify that their lots are not occupied by informal settlers”. The findings and conclusions in Illegal Vendors area: 1) The participants perceived weak performance as selling Central Market is long overdue; failure to revive reclamation Vendors Plaza to accommodate some of downtown area’s illegal vendors; failure to utilize policemen to assist daily campaign against illegal vendors; participants wanted the city to legitimize sidewalk vending by charging higher fees; discourage and stop vending along sidewalks, until no one would like to vend anymore; failure to campaign not to buy from illegal vendors should the public desire to get rid of them; Bonifacio Street is not worth replicating - it’s a street, period; strong level of tolerance and promotion of livelihood for the poor, unemployed & marginalized sectors; if illegal vendors are illegal, the city failed to daily campaign against them which is are indications of the City’s weakness and even neglect and indecision, including lack of determination in local law enforcement; 2) There are opportunities in this area like - the Sangguniang Panglungsod should pass ordinances: a) obliging downtown merchants to guard their area is needed; and b) impose stiffer penalty for illegal vending as a deterrent. The findings and conclusions in Peace and Order area: 1) There are strengths in the City’s peace and order policies with the passage of City Ordinance No. 578, Series of 2012: Regulation in the Sale of Bullets and Ammunitions Ordinance and City Ordinance No. 331, Series of 2003: Special Protection for Children during night time, its impact on Peace and Order of the City is yet to be determined in a separate study. 2) There are also weaknesses in the City’s peace and order policies as it take longer period of time in solving or apprehending perpetrators of celebrated crimes; insufficient police logistics and personnel; need to install CCTVs in critical areas; need to form or organize Local anti-Crime groups; need to study the territorial jurisdiction of precincts as they cover huge areas. 3) There are opportunities in this area: although celebrated crimes like murder, robbery and homicide seldom happens, however, when they happen, is very disturbing considering that it takes a while before it can be solved. This could threaten the people and make them feel insecure. The feeling of insecurity over the police capability is almost the same as when crimes take place. The peace of mind of the people could be sustained with the early and prompt solution to crimes that have occurred. This is what the public have always expected and wanted. The findings and conclusions in the four areas served as bases for the formulation of Sustainable Urbanization Plan for the City of Bacolod for the period 2014-2018 utilizing both the United Nation’s Development Program (UNDP) Handbook for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluating for Development Results and Swedish International Development Agency’s (SIDA) SymbioCity Approach.