• CHRYSEE G. SAMILLANO
An ordinance establishing the Bacolod City Healthy Workplace Program, was recently passed by the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod on first reading.
The ordinance authored by Councilor Em Ang said the World Health Organization (WHO) defines a healthy workplace as one where workers and managers collaborate to use a continual improvement process to protect and promote the health, safety, and well-being of all workers and the sustainability of the workplace.
Investing in occupational health and localized wellness programs significantly reduces absenteeism, lowers healthcare costs, and boosts overall economic productivity, thereby contributing to the sustained economic growth of the city, it said.
The rise of modern occupational hazards, lifestyle diseases, and recent public health emergencies highlight the critical need to transition from purely reactive healthcare to proactive, preventative health management directly within the workplace, the proposed ordinance said.
A healthy workplace is essential to the well-being, safety, and productivity of all workers, it said.
The City of Bacolod recognizes its role in promoting occupational health, mental well-being, and supportive work environments across both public and private sectors to ensure sustainable economic growth and a high quality of life for its citizens, the ordinance said.
This ordinance to be known as the “Bacolod City Healthy Workplace Ordinance of 2026,” aims to ensure safe, clean, and hazard-free work environments for all employees within the city; provide comprehensive psychosocial and mental health support systems to workers; facilitate access to basic health services, preventive care, and health education; strengthen collaborative partnerships between workplaces, local health providers, the local government unit, and the community; and establish a standardized recognition system to incentivize compliance among private and public institutions.
It will apply to all offices, departments, and attached agencies of the Bacolod City Government.
The Bacolod City Health Office will serve as the primary lead implementing agency.*
