Guv: We’re financially
healthy but loans will speed up growth
Says Ayala interested in Capitol land again
BY CARLA GOMEZ

The Negros Occidental provincial government is financially very healthy, but borrowing money for projects that will generate income and benefit future generations is a sound investment, Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. yesterday told members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.

“For me, this is the time to borrow money because the cost of money is very low, it is practically equal to the inflation rate. If we will not borrow now and just wait for our savings, our progress will be slow,” he said.

But any borrowing will be done with the scrutiny and consent of the board members, the governor assured in his close to 30-minute State of the Province Address (SOPA) that he delivered extemporaneously during the SP inaugural session at the Capitol Social Hall in Bacolod City.

Love Negros members
have mixed reactions
BY GILBERT BAYORAN

The plan of Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. to secure more loans to finance infrastructure projects yesterday drew mixed reactions from Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson and his allied board members, who had questioned the money borrowings of the provincial government during the recent elections.

While there is nothing wrong for local government units to borrow, the question is “Do we need to borrow?” Lacson said.

Lacson said he agrees with the statement of Marañon that the interest for loans is very low. However, he said, the bottom line is to determine whether there is really a need to resort to borrowing.

VG pledges
principled partnership
BY CARLA GOMEZ

Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson yesterday batted for a principled partnership and critical collaboration between the Negros Occidental Sangguniang Panlalawigan and the executive department led by Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr.

“We will always work for common grounds and concerted approaches to realize our common commitments to our people without diminishing our respective viewpoint and standpoint,” Lacson said in his speech at the inaugural SP session at the Capitol Social Hall in Bacolod City, after the governor delivered his State of the Province Address.

Lacson said he was grateful for the inaugural address of the governor and has utmost respect for all the commitments and plans Marañon has envisioned for the province.