Bacolod City’s vision of becoming a circular, resilient, and inclusive city by 2030 received a boost as representatives from the European Union (EU) and the European business community met with local leaders to explore partnerships in sustainability, green investments, and economic development.
The visiting delegation was led by Dawn Marie Cabigon of the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) and Tsvetomir Svilenov, Program Manager of the EU-Philippines Green Economy Partnership under the EU Delegation to the Philippines.
Mayor Greg Gasataya welcomed the delegation, together with city officials, national government representatives, business leaders, and members of the academe during an investment and economic dialog at the Bacolod City Government Center.
Gasataya emphasized the city’s commitment to sustainability through initiatives such as solar energy projects in government facilities, energy-efficiency programs, and support for cleaner transportation, including the use of electronic patrol vehicles.
“We are committed to making this partnership count. We want to ensure that future generations will continue to enjoy the Bacolod we know today. We cannot do this alone, but together, we are stronger,” he said.
Mae Llamas, head of the Department of Local Economic Development and Investment Promotions (DLEDIP), presented the city’s investment framework, “Bacolod 2030: Investing in a Circular, Resilient, and Inclusive Future.”
The roadmap highlights opportunities in health, agriculture, education, employment, tourism, transportation, renewable energy, green businesses, and climate resilience, a press release from the Bacolod City Communications Office said.
Svilenov praised Bacolod’s sustainability agenda and described the city as a promising partner for advancing green economy initiatives.
“It is a real privilege to visit you because our work is all about partnership and sustainability,” he said. “The biggest value of our partnership is the opportunity to work at the local level.”
Cabigon also said ECCP is ready to help promote Bacolod’s investment opportunities to European businesses and investors.
She encouraged the city to pursue business missions in Europe and strengthen engagement with potential investors, noting that ECCP can facilitate business-to-business partnerships across various industries.*
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