Bacolod city: This highly urbanized city has deployed a team of private security personnel to guard the public plaza, which is undergoing an upgrade funded by the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA).

According to Philippines News Agency, Mayor Greg Gasataya stated that after a two-day briefing, the security guards reported for duty on Wednesday. "Based on the contract, there are six of them. Number one, as blue guards, they are allowed to use firearms. Number two, their sense of authority is different from the city's Public Order and Safety Office (POSO) personnel. Number three, there would be people accountable. That's why we decided to put blue guards in the plaza," he added.

Gasataya confirmed that personnel from the POSO and General Services Office will continue their routine assignments at the plaza. These personnel are mostly job order employees. The city government has contracted the blue guards from Ilobac Security Agency Inc. Each of the six security guards is assigned to a 12-hour shift, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and vice versa, seven days a week.

Meanwhile, Gasataya has sought a meeting with officials of TIEZA, an attached agency of the Department of Tourism, for updates on the ongoing upgrade, renovation, and beautification of the public plaza and the Bacolod City Government Center grounds. "For the plaza, they only need a little more time to reconcile the electrical requirements," he added.

TIEZA has allotted PHP300 million for the improvement of the city's public facilities, including PHP80 million for upgrading works at the plaza and PHP220 million for the renovation of the Government Center grounds. Gasataya, however, said he learned only last week that the power supply requirements for the Government Center project have not been included in the contract. "For them, there's no sense of urgency. I asked for a dialogue with them. We are facing a big problem, they have to come here and find a solution," he added.