"ALL OF the processes for the renovation of the City Mayor's Office (CMO) passed through all the required processes."
This was stressed by Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez during the press conference Monday, February 20, at the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC) after some netizens questioned on social media the allocation of P16 million for the renovation of the office.
Benitez said the CMO has been temporarily transferred to MassKara Hall while the renovation is ongoing.
He said the budget was estimated by the City Engineer's Office (CEO) which was submitted to the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) for approval. He added that the budget was also approved by the City Council.
"As a working mayor, I found the premises of the CMO too small. So the first thing we have to do is develop the area," Benitez said.
The mayor noted that they need to expand the conference room, and others to accommodate the visitors.
"As a working mayor, we need these supporting facilities to ensure that the transaction at the CMO is sufficient," Benitez said.
He said that based on the CEO, the BCGC was completed in 2008, so it's already been 15 years, and a lot of renovations should be done.
"This is not my office, although I am there, this is really something to be proud of. This would be the face and the image of the city of Bacolod," he stressed.
Benitez noted that the P16 million is only for the renovation of the CMO, as it excludes the furniture and fixtures of the office.
Aside from the CMO, Benitez said that the public toilets, especially at the BCGC, the public plaza, and other areas also need renovation.
"Barring legal obstacles or hurdles for me to do this, I'm planning technically to redirect the CMO's budget for the improvement of these public toilets, and I'm thinking of spending my personal money for the CMO's renovation to make sure that there are no issues that it will personally benefit myself," he said.
He added that he will ask the CEO to make a plan of work for the renovation of the public toilets in the city.
The mayor noted that he will talk with the winning bidder for the CMO's renovation.
Moreover, Engineer Loben Ceballos, officer-in-charge of the CEO, said the CMO renovation includes the conference room, reception area, lounge area, kitchen and dining area, and secretary to the mayor's office, among others.
He said they also occupied the account executive’s office to expand the CMO.
Aside from the renovation, he added, they will also repair the sprinklers, air conditioner, and electronics connections.
Ceballos noted that the city will also provide new amenities inside the office.
He said the project was awarded to the MKU contractor, but if the mayor will finance the renovation of the CMO, they can offset the budget.
He said the CMO's renovation will last for six months.*