BACOLOD City Mayor Evelio Leonardia has requested the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to exempt from the ban the implementation of the city’s priority projects.

Leonardia said he already issued notices to proceed to the winning bidders of the city’s priority projects, except on the proposed construction of Bacolod MassKara Coliseum, where bidding is still ongoing.

“We submitted the lists to the Comelec for exemption and it’s up to them if they will grant it or not,” said Leonardia.

The city’s priority projects are the development of Progreso Village Relocation Site worth P350 million; Bacolod City College site development and facilities, P350 million; Bacolod MassKara Coliseum, P800 million; and the construction of roads and bridges, P200 million.

City Assessor Maphilindo Polvora, chairman of Bids and Awards Committee (Bac), earlier said that the winning bidders for the development of Progreso Village Relocation Site, Bacolod City College site development and facilities, and the construction of roads and bridges have already received the notice to proceed, but they need also to secure other documents to start the projects.

Last week, Bac already declared Jejor’s Construction Corp. as the single lowest calculated bidder for the construction of the proposed P800 million Bacolod MassKara Coliseum.

After it passes the financial stage of the bid, the Technical Working Group will also conduct a post-qualification bid, which will be held after the elections in May.

Leonardia said they will wait for the response of Comelec so these projects will be implemented.

“We will follow the law, if they will grant it it’s good. If it will be included in election ban, it’s still okay. We will always do everything legally,” he added.