• THERESA MAE DULMAN
The Bacolod City government has launched an investigation following the discovery of more than 4,700 sacks of hardened cement in two warehouses belonging to the City Engineer’s Office (CEO).
The cement, which had already turned to dust, was neglected in the warehouses, with 4,686 found in the Bacolod City College (BCC) compound in Barangay Taculing, and 100 other bags in a warehouse in Brgy. Alijis.
Mayor Greg Gasataya said the construction materials, estimated to be worth P1.1 million, could have been used to build classrooms for children, footwalks, and roads, calling the waste of public resources an insult to taxpayers.
“I’ve ordered a full investigation. Heads will roll. This will not be swept under the rug. We cannot and we will not allow this kind of neglect to go unanswered,” Gasataya said.
The inspection was a result of Memorandum No. 121, dated August 28, 2025, which established a CEO Inventory Team for Stocks and Supply.
Officer-in-charge of CEO Engr. Loben Ceballos said that some of the cement bags had been stocked for years since the supplies were moved from the old storage area during the construction of the BCC complex.
“The hardened cement came from the old warehouse that’s why we made it into a bedding for the new cement to avoid damaging the stocks but due to the number of stocks, this happened,” Ceballos said.
To prevent the same incident, a P67 million warehouse will be constructed by the city government in the Bredco area, expected to be completed within the year.*
