If the construction of the Negros First CyberCenter is delayed we could lose a golden opportunity to provide thousands of jobs to our young people, Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. reiterated yesterday.

Marañon was reacting to the statement of Vice Gov. Genaro Alvarez Jr. that many of the Negros Occidental board members are not inclined to approve the supplemental budget for the cyber center at the Paglaum Sports Complex in Bacolod City until next year.

Alvarez said that, since the first phase of the construction of the cyber center is to be completed in October next year yet, there is no need for the release of the funds for the second phase yet.

The construction of the first phase of the cyber center has a budget of P450 million, while the Sangguniang Panlalawigan is being asked to approve an additional P170 million for its second phase.

Board Member Salvador Escalante had said earlier that the P16 million budget for the electrical works and air-conditioning system of the cyber center, which need to be installed while the building is being constructed, has been included in the P170 million additional budget being sought for SP approval by Marañon.

Alvarez said availing of a new loan too early will mean that the provincial government will have to pay the interest even before it is needed.

The P1.533 billion loan of the province means annual interest payments of P80 to 85 million, which could be used for the construction of 10 kilometers of road, Alvarez said.

The vice governor said he was informed that one call center firm has opted to locate in Cebu instead of Bacolod because there are not enough qualified employees that it can hire in the province.

There is no guarantee that enough firms will set up operations in the cyber center, he said.

But the governor said that if the additional budget needed for the cyber center is approved next year yet, the project will be delayed.

There are a lot of locators that have signified interest in renting space at the cyber center, in fact there is a group arriving to conduct an inspection of the site, he said.

If there is a delay in the construction, locators are bound to look elsewhere, he said.

We will lose a golden opportunity, time is of the essence, because other cities in the country are also competing for these locators, he said.

Marañon said he believes many of the board members would not want to jeopardize opportunities for the youth of the province by delaying the cyber center, and that they will not think about politics.

The cyber center will generate employment for 12,000 he noted.

The governor said that, in the future he also plans to see to the construction of similar facilities in Kabankalan, Silay, Cadiz and San Carlos cities.

Marañon said the Monetary Board has approved the loans of the provincial government but took six months to do so.

This delayed the provincial government projects, he said, citing the much needed classrooms being built for the Negros Occidental High School.

Meanwhile, Marañon said he has no problem with the cutting by the SP of P2 million from the peace and order fund.*CPG

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