NEGROS Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. Said Friday, January 4, they asked a six-month extension to vacate the Provincial Administration Center (PAC) from Dynamic Builders Inc.
Dynamic Builders is set to start the construction of its P1.7 billion worth of investment for a mixed-use building early this year after nobody opposed them in the Swiss Challenge for their unsolicited proposal for the project.
Marañon said that Capitol is still looking for another area where other provincial offices that occupy the PAC building would relocate.
He said that the Philippine National Bank building which the province was eyeing is no longer feasible as the negotiation has not materialized.
Another area is the St. Francis Building along Araneta Street but the whole building is not available for rental by the province.
For the meantime, the province is asking an extension from Dynamic, the governor said.
However, he said that the building where the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office is located will be the first to be demolished as they are ready to vacate the area.
The provincial government is looking for a total of 2,000-square meter space to accommodate all offices that presently occupies PAC.
Marañon also said that once the P900 million new PAC building is completed, other offices that presently occupy the old Provincial Capitol building will also transfer there.
“To stay at the old Provincial Capitol building will be the Office of the Governor, Vice Governor, Sangguniang Panlalawigan, Provincial Administrator, Tourism and Legal Department,” he said.
However, he said the incoming governor may also opt to move to the new PAC building.
Meanwhile, Marañon said the province is eyeing a whole year round Panaad sa Negros Festival after the holding the annual revelry this April.
He said they will ask the towns and cities that they will keep their respective booths open the whole year round and prepare some activities.
This was the original plan of the province for Panaad, the reason why permanent booths were built for all the local government units.