COA urged to release findings on Ayala-Capitol deal

VARIOUS business organizations and industries have decided to create a manifesto that will press the Commission on Audit to reveal its review of the 7.7-hectare land deal between Ayala Land Inc. and the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental.

Nestor "Aboy" Evaristo, vice-president of the Hotels and Restaurants Association of Negros Occidental (HRANO), gathered the business players in Bacolod and province on Tuesday to finalize their position after they expressed mourning with the lighting of candles at the Capitol building steps Monday with the disengagement made by ALI form its land deal with Capitol.

"Our focus now is to press COA to reveal the findings. For instance, if the result was negative to Ayala, so that people here will have conclusion to it. So we can plan what to do next. But if we will not do this, we will not know the result of that review done by COA," he said.

They will come up with a position paper to be signed by the business leaders and groups that will support this cause. They have already the support of major business organizations and personalities in the city.

"We will ask COA not to delay the release of their findings. We will put those streamers in conspicuous places around the city," Evaristo said.

They will also send the manifesto to the Office of the President, to COA and other concerned agencies.

"With pressure from the citizenry, then they can feel that there is something going on in Bacolod. We are also communicating with Ayala through the people close to Ayala to reconsider its position and let this move bloom and get results. We hope that Ayala will not close its doors for reconsideration," he said.

COA's findings reportedly are favorable to Ayala but Ayala preferred to pull out, as SM Prime Holdings Inc. also threatens to seek a temporary restraining order to stop the implementation of the project.

If the result was really favorable to Ayala, Evaristo said their group will then question what's stopping Ayala from proceeding.

Meanwhile, in reaction to SM lawyer's declaration that SM will take care of the Negrenses, Evaristo said, "Let them make a formal or public declaration on what they want to do here. Are they putting up a convention center here? What are they building? Ayala land has a complete development project."

On the other hand, Lawyer Vince Patrick Bayhon said that SM is building a convention center, among other projects, at the SM Reclamation Area.

Evaristo asked him to let SM release this information and commit on when they will put up these facilities.

He said that they have already written Henry Sy, owner of SM, about the establishment of a convention center but up to now, there is still no such project. (Carla N. Canet/Teresa D. Ellera)