Why Are Beaches Closer to Bacolod a No-Go?

 


Despite its prime location along the Guimaras Strait, Bacolod and its surrounding cities, such as Talisay, Silay, and Bago lack truly swimmable beaches. Here's why:

  1. Muddy Coastlines – The beaches closer to Bacolod tend to be brown, muddy, and littered with seagrass due to mangrove-rich deltas and river outlets.
  2. Industrial Activity – Coastal areas near the city are heavily used for fishing ports, aquaculture, and industry, not recreation.
  3. Poor Waste Management – Inadequate coastal clean-up and water treatment lead to polluted shores.
  4. Lack of Investment – Very few serious tourism developments or resort investments have been made near the city, unlike the south, where private eco-resorts thrive.

 

What Should Be Done to Add More Tourist Beach Destinations Near Bacolod?

The lack of local swimmable beaches poses a huge opportunity. With the right strategy and sustainable planning, nearby areas can also be developed for coastal tourism.


Develop Artificial Beachfronts

Much like Manila Bay's dolomite beach (but more ecologically sound), Bacolod or nearby towns could develop artificial white sand beaches that are safe, clean, and family-friendly.

Rehabilitate Wetlands and Mangroves

Invest in eco-tourism with boardwalks, kayak tours, and wildlife observation points. Coastal mangroves can be assets, not liabilities, if appropriately framed.

Improve Access to Coastal Barangays

Roads to areas like Barangay Punta Taytay or Barangay Pahanocoy can be enhanced to attract more visitors and entrepreneurs.

Create Marine Sanctuaries

Develop protected marine zones for snorkeling and diving, similar to those found on Danjugan Island. LGUs or partnerships with NGOs could spearhead this.

Public-Private Partnerships

Encourage private investors to build mid-range resorts, glamping spots, or floating cabins in underutilized coastal lands with clear tourism potential.

Promote Island-Hopping from Bacolod

Guimaras is just across the strait. Organized boat tours, day-trip packages, and water taxis from Bacolod to Guimaras beaches could diversify the tourism portfolio.

While Cauayan, Sipalay, and Hinoba-an remain the darlings of Negrense beachgoers, the story doesn't have to end there. The southern coast may continue to shine, but with vision, planning, and investment, the coastal towns nearer Bacolod can become the next chapter in Negros Occidental’s tourism journey.

Until then, the southern road trip remains a rite of passage for beach-loving Bacolodnons—a pilgrimage to sun-soaked serenity, far from the urban sprawl, but close to the soul.

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Bakit Napakaraming Bakanteng Condominium Units sa Bansa?

Image
  Sobrang natuwa ang mga developers noong kasagsagsagan ng Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO), kung kailan nagdagsaan ang mga online na pasugalan at online sex rings sa bansa mula China. Nangunguna ang mga Chinese sa pagbili at pagrenta ng mga condominium units. Kabilaan ang nagsitayuang mga condominium buildings hindi lamang sa Metro Manila kundi na rin sa iba't ibang bahagi ng Pilipinas.   Mula sa pre-pogo period na P1.8 million ay tumaas ang mga presyo ng bawat room o unit na isang pad, isang kuwarto, o dalawang kuwarto sa average na P5 million.   Ngunit ipinatigil ni Pangulong Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr ang mga pogo operations sa bansa noong Hulio 2024, at sa pag-alis ng mga pogo operators at mga trabahador, biglang nabawasan ang mga bumibili ng condo units.   Mahigit-kumulang P300 thousand ang hinihinging down payment ng mga ahente ng real estate bukod na sa "murang" reservation fee na P25 -P50,000 at P18-P50,000 monthly rent-to-own charges bago pa m...
Read more

Built a Nation, Abandoned by It: The Silent Battle of the Jeepney Pioneer

Image
Francisco Motors Corporation  (FMC) is one of the country's pioneering jeepney builders. Over the years, FMC transitioned from refurbishing war-era jeeps to designing its iconic models, including its modern electric jeepney launched around 2018. FMC’s modern electric jeep costs around ₱985,000/unit— far cheaper than government-endorsed modern jeepneys priced between ₱1.3 and 3 million. 85% locally built (body, motor, chassis); batteries still imported, but for the first 1000 units only. These modern jeeps are designed with urban routes in mind, offering a 150 km range (approximately five trips) and utilizing 50 kWh batteries, which can be charged via the CCS2 standard. As add-on options, the package includes modern features: AC, CCTV, GPS, cashless fares, wheelchair ramps for PWDs, speed limiters, and emergency exits—while keeping the classic jeepney aesthetic. Although FMC produces affordable, culturally resonant units, several obstacles hinder its inclusion in the governmen...
Read more

Why Filipinos Need Trees to Bike

Image
    We need to saturate roadsides with trees  if we want sustainable transport for the majority.   Bicycle ride is the most practical and sustainable transport for the working-class Filipinos. But what keeps Filipinos from biking?   Working class Filipinos like to bike-to-work, not only for practical reasons like getting to your destination faster, and to engage in physical exertion, but to save on money and time. But why do not-so-many Filipinos bike? Three main reasons keep Filipinos from using bikes. 1. The extreme heat of navigating tree-less/ shade-less roads 2. The smoke from motorized vehicles 3. Safety.   Why are there less trees in our roads?   Many politicians, #DPWH dreamers, #planners and urban designers, for some delusional reasons, actually believe Philippine roads should have U.S.-like highways that could accommodate at least 6 trucks or cars side-by-side at any given time. So, they prohibit planting of trees near roads due to #future...
Read more