By Glazyl M. Jopson
BACOLOD CITY – The city government turned over a second building with 64 housing units to beneficiaries of the Asenso Yuhum Residences in Arao, Barangay Vista Alegre on Saturday.
This followed the turnover of the first building with 46 units in January.
Mayor Alfredo “Albee” Benitez congratulated the new homeowners for choosing to invest in a comfortable home for their families.
In his message, Benitez emphasized that the city’s housing program is a wise investment.
“This is really a big thing—an affordable home rather than renting at a much higher price,” he said.
Benitez said the area will be developed as a township with more facilities to follow.
The city plans to build a mini hospital, a public market or commercial space, a world-class skate park and a multi-purpose gymnasium for community events.
He added that the City Council has also discussed improving transportation access for residents’ convenience.
“This is not just decent and affordable housing but a world-class township,” Benitez said.
Councilor Vladimir Gonzales, chairman of the Sangguniang Panlungsod committee on urban poor, housing and resettlement, commended the beneficiaries for making a sound investment.
One homeowner said they applied for the program so their parents could visit often, as the site is nearby.
A 24-year-old clerk shared that she acquired a unit as a long-term investment and preparation for the future.
The city’s housing initiative is part of the 4PH Program under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s “Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino.”
Beneficiaries applied through the Pag-IBIG Fund to secure housing units, each with a minimum area of 24 square meters.
The city partnered with a consortium of WRS Holdings Inc. and Scheirman Construction Consolidated Inc. through a joint venture agreement to bring the 4PH housing projects to life.
The full development will include about 20 mid-rise condominium buildings, each four to five stories high.
Tourist Arrivals in Bacolod Up 6.72%
Meanwhile, the city government recorded 833,345 overnight tourist arrivals in 2024, a 6.72 percent increase from 780,916 in 2023, according to the City Tourism Office (CTO).
Of the total, 774,084 were domestic tourists and 59,261 were international travelers.
Top foreign markets included the United States, China, South Korea, Canada, Australia, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, the United Kingdom and Hong Kong.
The 2023 MassKara Festival helped boost numbers, drawing 98,563 visitors—a 24.03 percent rise from the previous year.
The CTO said the festival has grown into a major cultural and tourism attraction for both local and foreign guests.
The city also welcomed 125,491 same-day tourists, benefiting local businesses in food, retail and transportation.
Tourism has steadily improved since the pandemic, with consistent growth from 2022 through 2024.
The CTO remains committed to promoting Bacolod as a top destination in the Philippines under the slogan “Smile, You’re in Bacolod!”
