Bacolod city: Mayor Greg Gasataya expressed support for President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive that mandates local government clearance before national infrastructure projects are deemed complete. He stated that this aligns with the current practices in Bacolod City.
According to Philippines News Agency, Gasataya highlighted that the city has long coordinated with the local government unit on infrastructure projects funded by the national government. This process has been facilitated through the congressman’s office when he served as a congressman for the city’s Lone District for three terms before taking on the mayoral role in the May 2025 elections.
Gasataya explained that the practice involves sending a list of all projects and coordinating with the City Engineer’s Office (CEO). Ongoing projects and reports are submitted to the City Council, ensuring transparency and coordination within the city. Currently, Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez’s office is also working with the CEO on projects slated for inclusion in the proposed 2026 national government budget.
During a press briefing, President Marcos emphasized that requiring local government clearance serves as a safeguard, which was removed during the previous administration, resulting in weakened accountability on public works. He stressed the importance of local chief executives formally accepting projects as a measure to prevent substandard outputs.