Negros Occidental Vice Gov. Genaro Alvarez Jr. yesterday questioned the additional classrooms proposed to be constructed at the Negros Occidental High School in Bacolod City on top of the 24 rooms funded by the provincial government at P40 million.

He said that, based on his calculation, the 24 classrooms cost P1.6 million each, that he added, is way higher than the standard classroom built by the Department of Public Works and Highways at P650,000 each.

“Now, you add another 10 classrooms...I don't know if that is the new model today," Alvarez said, apparently referring to the cost of each constructed NOHS classroom.

But Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. yesterday justified the cost of each classroom, saying it was in preparation for the construction of the third and fourth floors in the future.

Marañon said the foundation and columns should be strong enough for a high-rise building. In highly-urbanized areas, the construction should be multi-storey because of limited space, he added.

Marañon said the construction of the two-storey 24 classrooms underwent bidding. He said the P650,000 classroom standard of the DPWH is only for a one storey-building.

Sangguniang Panlalawigan Board Member Salvador Escalante, chair of the SP Committee on Finance and Appropriations, said during their session Wednesday that the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has already approved the construction of 24 classrooms at the NOHS, and the additional classroom annex building.

This prompted the Committee to propose an ordinance that will authorize Marañon to negotiate with the Land Bank of the Philippines, and to sign for and in behalf of the provincial government, all loan documents on the construction of the classroom annex building at NOHS worth P10,160,454, he added.

Escalante also said there will be a committee hearing next week to discuss the BSP approval, and urged all SP members to attend.

Alvarez, however, questioned the construction of 10 more classrooms, and insisted that the provincial government had already complied with its obligations with the 24 classrooms worth P40 million.

On the P170 million budget for the construction of phase 2 of the Negros First Cyber Center, Alvarez said he is still puzzled why the approval of the ordinance isbeing pushed since the first phase will still be completed in October next year.

“If they want it now, maybe we can divide the house (SP), and we will see it if will be approved or not,” he added.*GPB

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