Millions of pesos in government funds and taxpayers' money have been spent on an infrastructure project aimed to boost the tourism industry in Tanjay City , Negros Oriental, which has turned into a “white elephant”, officials of the city said.

The officials are referring to the Mainit Spring Development project where an unutilized swimming pool was built sometime in 2005 during the incumbency of the late Mayor Baltazar Salma.

However, it was discovered that the elevation of the swimming pool is way above the hot water source, and the construction of the facility was stopped, city councilor Jovilo Napao said.

Napao recalls that he was already a councilor when the late Salma reportedly requested for funding of some P5- to P10-million for the Mainit Spring project.

Mayor Lawrence Teves, meanwhile, said the former mayor could also have spent additional funds from the city's 20 percent Economic Development Fund.

Teves, who was then vice-mayor of Salma, was presiding officer of the city council.

Napao said the Commission on Audit and the City Engineer's Office should be the agencies to look into the “unfinished business”.

He also said that a private developer has written the mayor about his interest in developing the Mainit Spring.

Napao confirmed stories circulating of the botched project allegedly due to the presence of supernatural beings who may have been angered when their territory was disturbed. In fact, some people believe Salma's illness and subsequent death are linked to such stories, he added.

Meanwhile, the Mainit Spring development project could remain a “white elephant”, Teves said.*JFP

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