Guv to bring Capitol-Ayala deal to Aquino’s attention

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

NEGROS Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. said he will he will bring up to President Benigno Aquino III the delay regarding the Commission on Audit (COA)’s action on the land deal between the Capitol and Ayala Land Inc. (ALI).

The governor is scheduled to meet with the President next week.

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"It's our last recourse," Marañon said.

Up to this time, the central office of the COA failed to act on the contract of the Provincial Government for the sale and lease of its 7.7-hectare property with ALI, despite Marañon’s two letters of appeal for COA's action.

"I have already sent our second appeal without any response from COA yet," Marañon said.

He said COA's action is vital so that the Provincial Government will know what to do next about the land deal.

Ayala has committed to pour in P6 billion for the development of the area at the back and the surroundings of the old Provincial Capitol building.

COA set two en banc sessions in January and February purportedly to deliberate on the deal but COA failed to take up the matter.

Even COA provincial auditor Ernie Villa expressed puzzlement over the COA central office’s delay in acting on the matter until now.

SM Prime Holdings Inc. reportedly sent a letter to COA central office, notifying them about the pending legal procedure it filed on the land deal based on its claims that it was the rightful winner of the bidding for the purchase and lease of such Capitol properties.

Meanwhile, Marañon said he will also invite President Aquino to come to the province for the inauguration of the extension of the Teresita Jalandoni Provincial Hospital with the additional 150 beds to the hospital's capacity.

The hospital will soon be equipped with an MRI, which costs from P50 to P60 million, he added.

The construction of the hospital's extension is worth P101 million.