Guv to send 2nd appeal to COA on Capitol-Ayala land deal

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

NEGROS Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. said Monday he will send a second appeal to the central office of the Commission on Audit (COA) asking it to act on the land deal between Capitol and Ayala Land Inc.

Marañon said he already sent the first appeal but until now COA still failed to act on the matter.

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"We are waiting for COA's decision. We need that so that we can move on, depending on their decision," Marañon said.

He said the draft for the second appeal is now being prepared and will be sent to COA as soon as it is ready.

Capitol has awarded the purchase and lease of its 7.7-hectare prime property to Ayala Land Inc., which proposed to infuse P6 billion worth of developments to the property.

The contract was forwarded to COA central office last August and was supposed to have been taken up in the body’s en banc meeting last January 7.

However, it was not taken up allegedly due to lack of time. It was calendared for the February 7 COA en banc meeting in Tuguegarao, Cagayan but until now, there has been no word about any decision.

Marañon said that outside forces could be a factor as to why COA has not yet come out with its comment on the land deal.

SM Prime Holdings Inc., which has been insisting that it was the rightful owner of the bidding, has raised the matter to the courts.

Endorsements of the project were already made by various stakeholders in the province, especially those from prominent organizations like the Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI).

MBCCI passed a resolution urging COA to hasten the approval of the contract so that development works can already be started.

Thursday last week, the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Bacolod also passed a resolution urging COA to decide on the said contract. (TED)