The members of the Negros Occidental Sangguniang Panlalawigan are reviewing the request of Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. for a resolution authorizing him to negotiate with the LandBank of the Philippines for the release of P240 million from the Capitol’s standby loan, Vice Governor Genaro Alvarez said yesterday.

Alvarez said the SP members want to go over a breakdown of what the loan will be used for in a caucus, and it is among the matters on the SP agenda for its regular session this afternoon.

The governor is seeking a P170 million loan for phase two of the Negros First Cyber Center at the Paglaium Sports Complex in Bacolod City, with phase one having been allocated P450 million last year, the vice governor said.

The governor is also seeking a P50 million loan for the construction of a three-storey Provincial Administration Center Annex Building in Bacolod City, and P10,160,454 for additional classrooms at the annex building the provincial government is constructing for the Negros Occidental High School.

Alvarez said that when the sale and lease of the provincial government-owned property behind the Capitol in Bacolod City pushes through it will also bring in additional income to the province.

Meanwhile, a press release from Jocelle Batapa-Sigue, Provincial Consultant on IT, said the aim of the provincial government is to develop the Negros First Cyber Center to serve as the largest information technology hub in the Western Visayas.

The governor sees the development of the Cyber Center not just as a mere structure but as portal for more high-value investments in the province and a proof of the local government’s commitment to generate more employment and business opportunities in the province, the press release said.

Marañon believes Negros Occidental can be a major gateway for countryside digital development by focusing on programs to develop the IT capabilities of the province, it added.

Accredited and granted pre-qualification clearance by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority on Sept. 16, 2011, the Cyber Center contains more than 22,000 square meters of floor space, the press release said.

The twin buildings which will span the corner of Lacson and Hernaez streets in Barangay 39, Bacolod City, are designed to contain feature large custom-fitted ready continuous spaces ideal for information technology-driven business process outsourcing activities to be leased to PEZA-registered IT enterprises, it added.

Other than IT-BPO workstations, the Cybercentre will also host ancillary and support facilities such as commercial establishments and non-IT companies, which directly or indirectly provide support to companies located in the area, the press release said.*CPG

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