NEGROS Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson admitted Monday, January 6, 2020, that he is frustrated over the continued delay of major infrastructures.
"We have verbally informed them to hasten the completion of the projects contracted to private contractors which until now has not been turned over to the provincial government," Lacson said.
The governor pointed that he will consult with the Provincial Legal Office if it will be possible to impose a penalty on the contractors.
"If it warrants that a penalty be imposed we will consult the legal department then we will," Lacson said.
Earlier, lawyer Rayfrando Diaz, provincial administrator, cited the delayed completion of Negros Food Terminal (pala-pala) at the North Capitol Road, the Negros First Residences and the Mambukal Convention Center Hotel at the Mambukal Resort in Murcia.
Diaz said the projects were started by the past administration under former governor Alfredo Marañon Jr.
Lacson said the Capitol-operated hotel still has not elevator installed but can be operational, while the Mambukal Convention Center Hotel at the Mambukal Resort in Murcia had issues because the holes supposedly for aircon units were too small.
The food terminal project is also not completed, he said.
The food terminal project costs P114.6 million, the hotel renovation is worth P113.7 million, while the convention hotel located inside at the Provincial Government-operated Mambukal Summer Resort is pegged at P84.6 million.
Funding for the said major projects of the Marañon administration came from loans from the Land Bank of the Philippines, Development Bank of the Philippines and the Philippine Veterans Bank worth P500 million.