Guv's P240M request SP to approve only what is necessary

MEMBERS of the Provincial Board in a caucus agreed to only approve necessary provisions of the P240 million supplemental budget which will be sourced through a loan from the Land Bank of the Philippines.

Vice Governor held a caucus on the matter of the supplement budget and asked concerned government agencies as well as stakeholders to clarify certain matters in connection with the proposed loan.

Alvarez said based on initial consensus, the board members are inclined to approve the amount which covers necessities embedded in the Phase I of the Negros 1st Cyber Center.

He pointed out that, based on the engineering works presented to the PB, there are necessities for the Cyber Center Phase 1 which is about P16 million. The rest of the P170 million for Phase II of the project is reportedly not deemed necessary by the board members.

The P16 million covers the automation of the project's water system.
Alvarez also revealed that, in the presentation, the Cyber Center is targeted to be finished by October 2013 or a little over a year from now.

He said it is the consensus of the board members that it is too early to process the loan that will have to be used a year from now.

Board Member Manuel Ko said the PB also asked that they be given a progress report on Phase I of the Cyber Center.

Ko said the caucus is being held to clarify things and that, as much as possible, the PB members can thresh out their concerns on the proposed P240 million loan and not be forced to vote on it .

The Provincial Government earlier loaned P450 million for the construction of the said project.

The P240 million proposed loan includes the P170 million for the Phase II of the Cyber Center, P50 million for the construction of the Provincial Administration Center Annex Building and P10 million for additional classroom for the Negros Occidental High School.

The P50 million was deferred, as a Task Force was created to look into the vacant office at the Philippine National Building which occupies the Provincial Government lot. (Teresa D. Ellera)