Guv’s P240M request faces rough sailing

THE P240-million supplemental budget proposed by Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. faces rough sailing at the Provincial Board.

This after Vice Governor Genaro Alvarez confirmed that some SP members are questioning the content of the proposed supplemental budget, citing this as the reason why it was not yet approved.

The supplemental budget will be loaned from the Land Bank of the Philippines by the Provincial Government. The amount covers the P170 million for the second phase of Negros First Cyber Center, P50 million for the construction of the three-storey Provincial Administration Annex Building, and P10,180,454.00 for the additional classroom-annex building at Negros Occidental High School.

The SP failed to hold its regular session Wednesday after it failed to come up with a quorum, which many observers believed has something to do with the supplemental budget.

Majority of the Provincial Board members were absent, including Alvarez, who was the presiding officer.

It was the second time that the SP failed to hold its session due to lack of quorum with the matter on the proposed loan included in the agenda.

Absent were Provincial Board Members Dino Yulo (5th District), Raul Rivera (president of the Councilors’ League of Negros Occidental), Helen Zafra and Pedro Zayco (6th District), Manuel Ko and Patrick Lacson (3rd District), Thea Marie Dino (SK provincial president) and Renato Gustilo (1st District).

Alvarez said the board members questioned the proposed P170-million loan for Negros First Cyber Center Phase ll.

The Provincial Government has already availed of P450 million for the construction of the Cyber Center Phase l which is still ongoing with only about 30 percent completion.

“So why do we have to loan for another P170 million when Phase 1 is not even halfway accomplished?” Alvarez said.

He said on the P50 million construction of the PAC annex building, the board members noted the vacant spaces in the Philippine National Bank (PNB) building, which is occupying a lot owned by the Provincial Government.

The board members, Alvarez said, believe that to borrow money for the construction of an annex building for the PAC for some offices of the Provincial Government is unnecessary.

On the P10 million additional classrooms for the NOHS, Alvarez said that sentiment aired by the board members is that practically all the students at the said high school are from Bacolod City where it is located.

Alvarez said the board members believe the funds can be used for construction of school buildings in the localities.