Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. yesterday said he has asked Local Governments Secretary Jesse Robredo and the Central Bank to help hasten the release of bank loans of local governments to prevent delays in much-needed infrastructure projects.

The governor added that he is also tapping the help of the League of Provinces of the Philippines as it is a problem of many local government units.

Under a new Central Bank rule bank loans to local government units need to undergo a review by the Monetary Board.

This has meant a delay in the release of P73.59 million in provincial government bank loans for four projects, Provincial Administrator Enrique Pinongan said.

The construction of the P40 million two-storey building at the Negros Occidcental Provincial High School in Bacolod City and the P19.8 access road to PhilRice in Casilayan, Murcia, funded by the provincial government, have been delayed because of this new policy, he said.

The release of P3.9 million for the construction of a dipping pool and P9.8 million for cottages at the Mambukal Resort in Murcia have also been delayed, Pinongan added.

Marañon said numerous other local government officials in Negros Occidental are also complaining about the new policy that is delaying the release of their bank loans.

These bank loans have already been approved by the Department of Finance and have passed the scrutiny of the lending banks, Marañon said, adding that the Monetary Board review is only causing further delay.*CPG

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