The one-hectare site of the old Provincial Jai in Bacolod City is now up for lease.

Provincial Administrator Enrique Pinongan yesterday said that they are leasing the old site of the Provincial Jail at P75 per square meter per month.

If the whole area is leased, Pinongan said the provincial government is expected to earn P750,000 a month.

He, however, said the gate and entrance of the old Provincial Jail, that are made of stone and bricks, will be preserved, citing its historical value. The old Provincial Jail used to be a Spanish fort, built more than 200 years ago.

Pinongan said the management of Chinatown square mall, also known as 888, has already inquired about the lease of the old provincial jail.

As for updates on sale and lease of the 7.7-hectare prime property of the provincial government to Ayala Land Incorporated, Pinongan said the Commission on Audit technical team is expected to convene on April 13 to evaluate and re-appraise the value of the property.

Governor Alfredo Maranon Jr. dismissed it as a delaying tactic on the part of COA, saying they could have questioned it a long time ago if there are defects.

The provincial government submitted the Capitol-Ayala contracts, which was questioned by the SM Prime Holdings Inc., for approval to COA on July 22 last year.

The delay in the approval by COA has prompted Maranon to de-prioritize the Capitol Civic Center project, so the provincial government could move on and focus on other development projects in Negros Occidental.

As required by the Local Government Code, the disposal of real properties by local government units need the approval of the COA, Pinongan said. *GPB

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