THE renovation of the Provincial Administration Center (PAC) has been stopped to make way for a commercial area at the ground floor of the building, Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said.
“Initially, we’re supposed to construct a new building for our offices, but the idea of putting a commercial area (surfaced),” he said.
Lacson said the provincial officials have not yet discussed if the proposed changes will be financed through public-private partnership, joint venture, or build-operate-transfer.
“Sayang (lost opportunity),” he said, but he remained optimistic. “There are still projects we can tap. There are many possibilities.”
The P185.9-million renovation and expansion of the PAC is part of the Capitol’s four major infrastructure projects, which started construction in early 2017.
The other projects include the P114.65-million Negros First Pala-Pala and Food Terminal, the P113.9-million development of Capitol-run Sweet City Captel, and the P84.8-million renovation and construction of Mambukal Mountain Resort Hotel and Convention Center.
The funding for the four projects were sourced from the P500-million bank loan of the province in 2016.
Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. had strongly pushed for the loan from various banks for the implementation of the four projects.
The governor had believed it was the right time to loan three years ago due to cheap interest rates.
He pointed out that the Provincial Government’s infrastructure projects will generate income.