Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. yesterday said he expects the Commission on Audit to approve the contract of the provincial government on the sale of its 7.7-hectare property to AyalaLand because nothing is wrong with it.

The contract is currently under review by the COA head office.

If the COA approves the contract, the provincial government will consult with its lawyers on whether they can proceed with the signing, the governor said.

The Court of Appeals has issued a Temporary Restraining Order sought by SM Prime Holdings in connection with the sale of the 7.7-hecatre property, but the governor said it is unclear what is being restrained.

Meanwhile, University of St. La Salle officials met with the governor yesterday to discuss their continued use of provincial government owned property adjacent to the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital in Bacolod City for its medicine and nursing schools.

The governor said the Department of Health also wants to construct a building on the property that is about 2,000 square meters as an extension to the regional hospital.

He said a tripartite memorandum of agreement would be signed between the provincial government, DOH and USLS to allow the school to remain in the area.

The governor yesterday also said he welcomed the move of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process to directly deal with   the Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa Pilipinas-Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade to hasten the peace talks.

He said this will cut the red tape.*CPG

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