SP defers approval of loan for 3rd time

THE Provincial Board deferred for the third time Wednesday the approval on the request of Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr., for an authority to negotiate for the P18-million loan with Land Bank of the Philippines.

This as the SP was not able to start its session on time due to lack of quorum and was able to come up with the necessary number only nearly an hour after.

With 15 SP members and the vice governor, there should be at least eight members present to constitute a quorum.

Those absent included Salvador Escalante, chairman of the SP Committee on Finance, who was said to be on sick leave.

The loan is primarily for Phase II of the Negros 1st Cyber Park in the amount of P170 million and for the ten additional classrooms for the Negros Occidental High School with an allocation of P10 million from the original total amount of P240 million which included the P50 million for the annex of the Provincial Administration Center.

Board Member Dino Yulo, vice chairman of the SP Committee on Finance, moved for the deferment after the SP Committee en banc tasked to discuss the matter was not able to have a quorum.

Yulo informed the body that the matter will only be tackled by the SP if the issues concerning the proposed loan will be clarified in the committee en banc.

Earlier, Alvarez said that the contention of most of the SP members is to approve only P16 million which is embedded in the Phase I of the Cyber Park.

As to the P10 million for the additional classrooms for NOHS, Alvarez said it is the sentiment of the provincial board members that, if there are classrooms that has to be constructed it should be those in the far-flung areas in the province.

He stressed that, as to the agreement with NOHS, the Provincial Government has complied with the 24 classrooms as contained within the agreement covering the return of the Paglaum Sports Complex to the Provincial Government.

Of the P240-million budget asked by the governor for SP's approval, only P180 million was endorsed by the Committee on Finance with the deduction of the P50 million intended for the construction of the Annex Building of the Provincial administration center and P10 million for the additional classrooms for NOHS. (Teresa D. Ellera)