Bacolod Rep. Monico Puentevella yesterday said a congressional inquiry will be held in Bacolod City before Christmas involving the proposed P250 million loan of the city with the Philippine Veterans Bank to finance its squatter relocation site.

He said he has requested the chairman of the Local Government Committee to hold the hearing in Bacolod , whether or not the loan will push through since they want to know the financial situation of the city.

Puentevella had earlier introduced House Resolution 1479 directing the House committees on Local Government and Bank and Financial Intermediaries to conduct an inquiry into the propriety of the proposed P250 million loan from PVB.

In his resolution, Puentevella said the people of Bacolod are questioning the timing of passing the resolution granting Mayor Evelio Leonardia the authority to negotiate and enter into a loan agreement with PVB, which the Sangguniang Panlungsod ratified, citing the many factors which should have been considered before leaving such ultimate decision in the hands of the city mayor.

City Legal Officer Joselito Bayatan had said the purpose of the loan is with good intention, which is to provide housing for the poor and homeless constituents of the city.

There are more than 2,000 informal settlers in Bacolod facing ejection this year.

Meanwhile, Puentevella said he will hold a big Christmas party for the victims of the Nov. 2 fire in Barangay 19 probably in the first or second week of December.

He said the activity will be sponsored by the MONO Team, Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., SMART and Filipino boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao.

“We will give the fire victims scholarships, school supplies and materials for their houses, and we are consulting them now on other things they need,” he said.

Ramon Viva, spokesperson of Puentevella, said about 50 affected families in Brgy. 19 have signified their interest to relocate to the congressional property in Barangays Handumanan and Cabug.

He said the Department of Social Services and Development have certain requirements for them to process before they could transfer.

Puentevella said they have to make sure that they do not own a house in Brgy. 19 as required by the DSWD.

On the other hand, former Bacolod Rep. John Orola said he is not familiar with the property being offered by Puentevella to the Brgy. 19 fire victims, when asked if the property being offered by the latter is the same site he had developed.

He recalled that during his term he was able to allocate a property in Cabug for the less privileged which he had developed together with the National Housing Authority

“If there are residents of Brgy. 23 and 27 who have been relocated there, I think that is the property,” Orola said.

He said the property, which is about 3-4 hectares and located somewhere in Handumanan going to Cabug, was already turned over to the local government.*CGS

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