PROPERTY developer Megaworld Corp. will donate 6,000 square-meter lot to the City Government of Bacolod.

This is for the construction of the city’s welcome area in the boundary of Bacolod and Talisay along the Bacolod-Silay Airport Access Road.

Mayor Evelio Leonardia said on Monday, April 30 that during his final meeting with Megaworld senior assistant vice president and head of public relations and media affairs Harold Geronimo and its assistant vice president for architectural planning lawyer Rowena Sansano, he was informed about the property donation, which was not the 2,000 square-meter lot as what he earlier announced.

For the lot alone, it valued at P108 million, he said.

“They showed me the letter of Mr. Tan approving my request of putting up this project in Bacolod,” he added.

Megaworld is currently putting up the high-end project, Forbes Hill, in the area.

“This is in the concept of the Las Vegas welcome area. That when you arrived in Las Vegas, you will see the big welcome sign, which has become iconic, with parking areas for tourist to stop and take pictures. But what will make us better than Las Vegas is that we will put souvenir shops in the area,” Leonardia said.

He said they are finalizing the welcome area design which will be constructed by Megaworld.

He added the groundbreaking will be on June 18, the city’s Charter Day, and they aim to finish the project in October.

The mayor will also ask the Bredco Port officials to open its new port terminal on June 18 because that is the day the Bacolod Charter was signed.

“For us, it's like opening the city to the world. I subscribed to the projection that tourism is going to become the biggest industry in the world,” Leonardia said.

Leonardia advised Megaworld to consult with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to comply with the requirements for the construction of the project.