Mayor Gasataya backs PBBM on LGU clearance for infra projects

Bacolod Mayor Greg Gasataya said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive requiring local government clearance before national infrastructure projects are considered complete is a welcome development, saying it supports the practice already being implemented in the city.

“For us, we welcome that. It has been our practice in Bacolod City,” he said in a press conference.

Gasataya, who served as congressman of the city’s Lone District for three terms before he was elected mayor in the May 2025 elections, said it has been his practice in the past to coordinate with the local government unit (LGU) on the infrastructure projects funded by the national government, which are being facilitated by the congressman’s office.

“We send the list of all the projects, there is coordination with the City Engineer’s Office (CEO). There is a submission of the ongoing projects and reports to the City Council. That has been the practice in the city,” he added.

At present, Gasataya said the office of Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez is also coordinating with the CEO on projects for the city being included in the proposed 2026 budget of the national government.

In Monday’s press briefing, the President said requiring local government clearance is a safeguard that was removed during the previous administration and weakened accountability on public works.

He said requiring local chief executives to formally accept projects before they are declared finished is an important check against substandard outputs.* (Nanette Guadalquiver/PNA)