THE Bacolod City Council approved the request of Mayor Evelio Leonardia to authorize him to apply for a loan with the Department of Finance (DOF)-Municipal Development Fund Office amounting to P1.7 billion to fund the city's flagship projects.
Councilor Caesar Distrito, chairperson of the City Council committee on laws, said yesterday they deliberated the mayor’s request for almost three hours during the regular session Wednesday, which was presided by Councilor Sonya Verdeflor.
The request was supported by the 10 votes cast by Councilors Distrito, Cindy Rojas, Em Ang, Renecito Novero, Dindo Ramos, Bartolome Orola, Elmer Sy, Noli Villarosa, Ann Marie Palermo and Ayesha Joy Villaflor.
Councilor Claudio Puentevella voted against it while Councilor Wilson Gamboa abstained.
Distrito said Councilor Ricardo Tan was disallowed to cast his vote because he was an acting vice mayor since Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran was the acting mayor as Leonardia travelled abroad.
"Once you are the acting vice mayor, under the rules you are not just a temporary vice mayor but an acting vice mayor. It's automatic, by operations of law, that when the mayor is out, automatic the vice mayor will take over his post and the number one councilor will become the vice mayor," he said.
At the start of the session, Tan was the presiding officer but he stepped down so he can cast his vote on the passage of the loan's resolution. They nominated Verdeflor to take over his post as a temporary presiding officer.
The City Council also approved the request of Leonardia for authority to sign the Letter of Intent addressed to Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III for various loan applications with the DOF.
Distrito said that according to the DOF, Bacolod is allowed to apply a loan of at least P4 billion, but the city only applied P1.7 billion for its flagship projects such as the Progreso Village Relocation Site with the budget of P350 million; Bacolod City College Site Development and Facilities, P350 million; construction of Bacolod MassKara Coliseum, P800 million; and the construction of roads and bridges, P200 million.
"The budget for all these projects will be funded by a loan to be taken also from the government, the DOF which will have a very minimal interest of three percent per year," he said.
He added the Progreso Village Relocation Site Development will improve and provide additional facilities, roads, land improvements to solve the housing backlogs of the city, and will make the relocation site a livable place for the city's informal settlers.
Distrito said the Bacolod MassKara Sports Arena will have at least 10,000 seating capacity with swimming pool, training areas for athletes, offices and parking lots. He added it will also have an iconic design that will become a tourist attraction.
He added the Bacolod City College will also be expanded to include more buildings, facilities and areas that can accommodate more poor Bacolodnon students.
Distrito disclosed they still need to submit other requirements for the approval of the city's loan.