The Negros Occidental Sangguniang Panlalawigan deferred action again yesterday on the proposed P240 million loan requested for approval by Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr.,pending finalization of the report of the SP Committee on Finance.

Board Member Salvador Escalante, chairperson of the SP Committee on Finance, said yesterday that they will hold another caucus on Sept. 19, to scrutinize the report of the Provincial Engineer’s Office for the construction of the Negros First Cyber Center in Bacolod City.

Escalante said the construction of the first phase of the cyber center, that started in February, is 35 percent completed now. It has a budget of P450 million and is targeted for completion in October next year.

He, however, said 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.

Escalante raised the possibility that the Finance Committee may only initially endorse the approval of the P16 million, and not the entire P170 million, so the electrical connections and air-conditioning system can be installed.

The P240 million loan sought will also cover the construction of an additional six classrooms at the Negros Occidental High School in Bacolod, with a budget of P10,160,454, and the three-storey Provincial Administration Center Annex Building, amounting to P50 million.

The board members, however, agreed to hold off a P 50-milion loan for the construction of the PAC annex building, and are, instead, exploring the possibility of leasing office space at the Philippine National Bank building at Lacson Street in Bacolod City.

On the construction of six additional classrooms of the NOHS, the Committee on Finance members reached a consensus during their caucus Monday to wait for the approval by the Central Bank Monetary Board of the P40 million loan of the province from the Philippine National Bank for 24 other classrooms.

The construction of the 24 classrooms at NOHS had been temporarily suspended by its contractor, who has not been paid by the province, due to the non-release of the P40 million PNB loan.

Meanwhile, the SP yesterday approved the endorsement of Gov. Marañon, for the concrete paving of the Brgy. Felisa-Dulao-Tabunan road in Bago City costing P2,667,049.30, construction of the Patic Irrigation and Drainage canal in Pulupandan - P994,023.50, Tissue and Culture Propagation Center in Brgy. La Granja, La Carlota City - P4,490,772.50 and a two-classroom building at the Marcelo High School in Calatrava - P1,435,559.53. * GPB

back to top