The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Negros Occidental yesterday failed to pass on its second reading an ordinance authorizing Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. to negotiate with the Land Bank of the Philippines and sign for and in behalf of the provincial government loan documents for lack of quorum.
The loan is intended for the construction of phase 2 of the Negros First Cyber Center, worth P170 million, and additional classrooms at the Negros Occidental High School, with a budget of P10,160,454.
Vice Governor Genaro Alvarez Jr., the presiding officer, yesterday flew to Manila to attend the meeting today of the six Negros Occidental solons, Marañon and NPC provincial chairman Isidro Zayco, while eight other SP members were reported absent at the regular SP session for still unknown reasons. The meeting was supposed to be presided over by Board Member Mae Javellana.
Originally, the construction of the three-storey Provincial Administration Center, with a budget of P50 million, was included in the ordinance, proposed by Maranon to the SP. However, it was opposed by Alvarez, who, instead, suggested the use of the vacant office space at the Philippine National Bank building at Lacson Street in Bacolod City, which stands on the Capitol property, to house the three provincial government departments.
This prompted the SP to propose an ordinance creating a task force to negotiate with the PNB management for the use of the vacant space by the provincial government of Negros Occidental, that was also scheduled for deliberation yesterday by the provincial board.
The two ordinances are expected to be deliberated on during its regular SP session next week.
Alvarez had earlier suggested that the funds for the construction of PAC annex building be distributed to the six districts of Negros Occidental, for road-concreting projects.
The buildings of the Provincial Environment and Management Office and two other Capitol departments are located on the 40,481 square-meter lot, that is included in the lease contract with Ayala Land Inc.
Earlier, Provincial Administrator Enrique Pinongan had said that P50 million is a big savings for the provincial government.
It has been noted that, before the recent political developments, the SP had approved similar requests of Marañon without any hesitation.* GPB back
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