Bacolod City — Mayor Greg Gasataya led the distribution of financial assistance to five organizational beneficiaries under the Sustainable Program for Resilient and Optimum Urban Transformation (SPROUT) Program during the City Development Council meeting on Monday, May 12, 2026.
Farmer and fisherfolk organizations were among the 13 identified associations that received the aid amounting to a total of ₱9 million under the flagship initiative of the Bacolod Environment and Natural Resources Office (BENRO) and the City Planning and Development Office.
The SPROUT initiative aims to empower marginalized sectors, including farmers, fisherfolk, and senior citizens, to reduce reliance on external food sources and adopt Good Agricultural Practices (GAP). Among the recipients were:
Federation of Homeowners Association Inc. — ₱3,000,000 for community-based greening efforts;
Bacolod City Integrated Small Farmers Federation Inc. — ₱1,500,000;
Bacolod City Fisherfolks Federation, Inc. — ₱1,000,000; Senior Citizen Association of Purok San Dionisio Inc. — ₱100,000 for localized urban farming projects;
and Gardenville Homeowners Association Inc. — ₱100,000 for urban farming initiatives.
Judy Ginson, president of the Bacolod City Integrated Small Farmers Federation Inc., expressed deep gratitude for the city’s support, highlighting how the funds will modernize local farming.
“This assistance is a significant boost for our farmers as it allows us to finally purchase the machinery and essentials needed to improve our work and at the same time help sustain the needs of Bacolod,” Ginson said. “Our associations have already finalized plans for these funds. In Alangilan specifically, we will invest in farming machineries and seedlings to accelerate land cultivation and planting, making the labor of our city’s farmers much more efficient,” Ginson explained. Mayor Gasataya emphasized that the ₱9 million allocation from the city’s 20% Development Fund is an investment in the people’s self-sufficiency.
“We believe that through the SPROUT program, we can reduce the volume of waste reaching our sanitary landfill. While we recognize that these initiatives require significant investment, we fully support them because they benefit the entire community,” Gasataya added.
The Mayor further highlighted the environmental and civic impact of the program, noting its role in waste management and public accountability.
Beyond crop production, the initiative also includes bio-waste recycling and the development of stable market channels for produce, ensuring a sustainable path from cultivation to commerce. Aside from the SPROUT grants, the city also started distributing Annual Investment Program shares to three barangays: Barangay Alangilan, Barangay Villamonte, and Barangay 18.
The funds will be used for the installation of solar streetlights and CCTV cameras in strategic areas to strengthen energy conservation and peace-and-order initiatives. The release of the financial assistance serves as a concrete testament to the city government’s commitment to climate risk mitigation and economic empowerment, laying both the literal and figurative groundwork for a greener and more resilient Bacolod. (BACOLOD CITY COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE)
