The population of Bacolod is 499,497 as of August 1, 2007 based on the 2007 census of population conducted by the National Statistics Office that was declared official by the President through Proclamation No. 1489.

Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia said the figure is much higher than what they had estimated.  He said it is supposed to be 472,000 for 2008, based on the population growth rate of the city of 1.38 percent a year.

“This is significant because it shows we are growing even faster than Iloilo which has a population of 418,710,” Leonardia said. This means that there are 80,787 more people in Bacolod than in Iloilo, he said. He believes the population of Bacolod has grown because of the migration of people to the city and the economic attractions and opportunities that are provided by the growth and development of the city, he added.

TACULING IS NUMBER ONE

Leonardia said that in terms of population, Taculing is now the number one barangay in Bacolod when traditionally it was Villamonte.

Also based on the 2007 NSO census, Taculing has a total population of 39,014; Villamonte – 38,498; Mansilingan – 36,222; Tangub – 31,534; Singcang-Airport – 31,370; and Estefania – 30,532.   

Leonardia said what is noticeable is the dramatic growth of Brgy. Estefania, which probably ranked number 12 or 15 among the 61 barangays of Bacolod 10 years ago. This is a classic example of what could happen when development comes, he said.

He recalled that during his first term as mayor, the city embarked on a housing development project with St. Rafael Development Corp., where thousands of new houses were constructed in Estefania. Now there are many subdivisions that have sprouted in the area, he said, and it is now more populated than the city’s traditional big barangays like Banago (27,096) and Bata (25,745) and even Handumanan (25,486).

SQUATTER PROBLEM SERIOUS

Meanwhile, 39,921 or about half of the households in Bacolod are considered squatters, or informal settlers, who do not own their house and lot.

Bacolod Housing Authority head Josephine Segundino said this is a serious problem of the city and the mayor wants to purchase 30 to 60 hectares for additional relocation sites that could, at least, accommodate about 1,000 households, especially those with pending court cases or those are facing ejection.

Based on the 1997 records of the BHA, the number of squatter families in Bacolod is about 41,610, she said. “But this could have gone higher if we consider the 1.38 percent population growth rate of the city and the rate of immigration from the rural areas,” she added.  

Segundino said the city has about 400 available lots but the 203 lots are being developed for the eventual transfer of the awardees of Purok Mahimulaton, Brgy. Banago and some areas affected by demolition orders.

She said the mayor has approved a P2 million budget for the conduct of a survey on the rate of poverty incidence in the city and to update the BHA data on the number of squatters and those who could be covered by the city’s socialized housing program.

CALL FOR LAND OFFERS

Segundino said the mayor has issued an executive order directing the Bacolod City Task Force on Landbanking, chaired by Councilor Dindo Ramos, to evaluate offers from landowners.

Leonardia said they are inviting interested landowners to submit their letters of intent to sell, description of the area, and why it is suitable for housing, copy of land title, vicinity map, and other related documents, to the BHA before May 6, 2008.*CGS

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