A copy of the Commission on Audit decision approving the sale and lease of the 7.7-hectare Negros Occidental provincial government property in Bacolod City to AyalaLand Inc. was delivered to ALI officials in Manila by assistant Provincial Legal Officer Mary Ann Manayon-Lamis Saturday, Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. said yesterday.

She also delivered a letter from the provincial government asking ALI to reconsider its decision to disengage from the Capitol project, he said.

In an official statement issued Friday, however, ALI had said that, while it welcomes the COA approval of the Deed of Conditional Sale and Contract of Lease between the provincial government and Ayala, there is still a pending case before the Bacolod Regional Trial Court on the award of the property that could still be elevated to the higher courts.

SM Prime Holdings Inc. filed the case against the provincial government officials before the RTC, saying it was the rightful winner of the bid for the lease and sale of the 7.7-hectare property.

But, the COA, in its ruling approving the sale and lease of the property, said it is clearly established that the provincial government and its Committee on Awards and Disposal complied with COA regulations in awarding the property to ALI.

The governor said the COA decision was a vindication because “All the time, we have been saying that what we did was within the bounds of the law…rules and procedures of bidding were followed, it was transparent and above-board.”

But Jose Miguel Marco, ALI Corporate Communications head, said on Friday that “After more than 14 months of waiting, we maintain our intention to discuss a mutual disengagement with the Negros Occidental provincial government”.

ALI is now focused on the development of its 200-hectare North Point project in Talisay City that will promote more employment and business activity in Negros Occidental, he said.

Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Frank Carbon, in a letter to Marco Saturday, said it was sad to hear that ALI was maintaining its intention to discuss a disengagement from the project despite the COA ruling.

“We’re earnestly hoping that you will reconsider your intention to disengage,” he added.

He also said the MBCCI is happy that ALI is accelerating development of its North Point project and asked to be furnished with details of the plan.

On the other hand, Negros Occidental Board Member Patrick Lacson issued a statement that, he disagrees that the COA decision was a vindication.

In the statement, he said SMPHI and ALI are the victims because not only did the provincial government waste their time, it wasted an investment opportunity that could have smoothly transpired since last year.

Lacson thanked ALI for its investment in its 200-hectare North Point project in Talisay City that he said he is confident will change the landscape of Negros Occidental.*CPG

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