Hotel group to ask Ayala to reconsider project withdrawal

THE Hotel and Restaurant Association of Negros Occidental (HRANO) will come up with a manifesto asking Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) to reconsider its decision for a mutual disengagement from its P6.6 billion investment at the 7.7-hectare property of the Provincial Government.

Aboy Evaristo, HRANO vice president, said they will also ask Shoe Mart Prime Holdings Inc. to withdraw the case they filed against the Provincial Government pertaining to the bidding process held for the said Capitol properties.

He said that other business groups in Bacolod City will also support the manifesto.

In its statement dated October 5, Ayala reiterated its stand to disengage from its development plan on the Capitol properties despite the recent approval by the Central Office of the Commission on Audit of their contract with Capitol.

The company noted the pending case at the Regional Trial Court Branch 50 against the award of the property that could be elevated to higher courts.

“We are now focused and accelerating the development of our 200-hectare North Point project. We believe that the North Point project, because of its size and scale, will promote more employment and business activity in the province. We thank the people and the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental, the Governor and all other stakeholders for your continued support," ALI said in a statement.

HRANO, along with the Philippine Constructors Association of Negros (PCAN), led the candle lighting at the steps of the Provincial Capitol building as they mourned the pullout of ALI from its deal with the Provincial Government.

"This translates not only to loss of jobs and business opportunities to thousands of Negrense but also a setback in our efforts to make Negros and Bacolod a major tourism destination," HRANO said.