THE Negros Cooperative Bank (NCB) has one year to vacate from its present location inside the provincial lagoon and park.
This was confirmed Monday, November 11, by Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson after the bank officials met with him last week.
Lacson also revealed their plan of converting the bank into a coffee shop, which could be run and managed by the Provincial Government.
Lacson said that with the one year extension, the bank will have its own electricity sub-meter so that they would pay for their electricity bills.
He also said that he assured the bank officials that the province will assist them in looking for a new place to transfer.
NCB manager Phoebe Tongson earlier said that they are willing to move out from the Provincial Lagoon and Park but are asking for a little time to look for an accessible location to transfer, make a new vault and comply with the requirements of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).
The Provincial Board has approved a resolution authorizing Lacson to demand that the NCB vacate and terminate the deed of usufruct between the provincial government and the cooperative bank on the use of the 526-square meter lot located inside the Capitol Park and Lagoon.
Board Member Andrew Montelibano, author of the resolution, said NCB has not paid its water and electricity bills to the provincial government for 12 years already.
He said the bank had been using the property for free, but there was a breach of contract and conflict of interest.
The NCB is supported by 47 cooperatives all over Negros Occidental.