BACOLOD CITY, June 2, 2025 — A significant step forward in strengthening the city’s sustainability and planning initiatives took place today at the Bacolod City Government Center as Dr. Jean Locsin-Ramos, Head of the City Planning and Development Office (CPDO), met with the top leadership of La Consolacion College Bacolod (LCC Bacolod) to discuss the school’s involvement in crucial research inputs for the Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) and the City Development Plan (CDP).
Present at the meeting were Sr. Flolyn S. Catungal, OSA, LCC Bacolod School President, Dr. Rodjhun B. Navarro, Vice President for Research, Innovation, and Linkages, and Mr. Rejay Alvarado, Head of the Research Office. The trio represented the college’s ongoing commitment to science-based local development and its growing role as a research partner to the City Government.
At the heart of the collaboration is LCC Bacolod’s initiative to provide robust environmental data and analysis to inform the city’s strategic plans. As shared by Dr. Navarro, “We are contributing evidence-based insights, especially on solid waste management, as Bacolod navigates the next decade of land use and development planning.”
The discussion centered on triangulating findings of the studies on the Waste Analysis and Characterization Study (WACS), the Plastic Waste Leakage Assessment Study, which is part of a broader collaboration with the University of Kassel (Germany), the University of St. La Salle, and GIZ Germany, funded by the Hessian Ministry of Environment, and another study on waste reduction initiatives.
These studies yield vital data on household and commercial waste generation, informal waste sector participation, and the critical pathways of plastic leakage into the environment. By integrating these findings with the city’s existing baseline data and mapping tools, the CPDO aims to craft a more responsive and resilient development plan—one that reflects ground realities and anticipates environmental risks.
Dr. Locsin-Ramos emphasized the importance of this partnership: “The city needs solid science to back our strategies. We’re glad to work with LCC Bacolod, which is not only an academic institution but a committed community partner.” She added that the collaboration also aligns with the city’s goals to reduce its ecological footprint and pursue sustainable urban development.
Sr. Flolyn affirmed the college’s advocacy for inclusive and sustainable communities. “Our mission as a Catholic Augustinian school is rooted in service and stewardship. We believe that by helping shape the city’s plans, we’re also shaping a better future for our students and for Bacolod.”
The meeting concluded with action points to formalize the data-sharing mechanisms and timelines for LCC Bacolod’s submission of research outputs. The CPDO will also coordinate with the college’s research office for validation workshops involving stakeholders from barangays, local NGOs, and the private sector.
As Bacolod City pushes forward with its updated CLUP and CDP, this partnership with LCC Bacolod marks a promising direction—where academic research, local governance, and environmental responsibility converge.