NEGROS Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. welcomed the pronouncement of Dynamic Builders and Construction Company Inc. (DBCCI) that it is eyeing a P1 billion investment for the development of a property owned by the Provincial Government.
Marañon, who met with the officers of the Negros Press Club at his office in Bacolod City Thursday, March 8, said such huge investment would surely result to the improvement of the Provincial Capitol Building, particularly the Provincial Administration Center (PAC).
More private-public partnerships (PPPs) are good for the province, Marañon said, adding that “other interested investors are welcome as the province ventures many other developments.”
DBCCI, one of the leading construction firms in the province, is offering the province a PPP scheme for the construction of PAC.
This was earlier confirmed to SunStar Bacolod by Second District Board Member Salvador Escalante Jr., chairman of Sangguniang Panlalawigan committee on appropriations, budget, finance, and ways and means.
Amid the health and safety hazard concerns as the building is already dilapidated, Escalante said the governor considers replacing it with a new and modern structure that will put together some offices that have been scattered in different locations.
The Provincial Government earlier earmarked almost P186 million for the renovation and expansion of the one-hectare property.
It forms part of the four major infrastructure projects totaling to about P500 million, which is funded through a bank loan acquired by the Provincial Government from the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP).
Other projects include the P114.65 million in the construction of the Negros First Pala-Pala and Food Terminal, P113.9-million development of Capitol-run Sweet City Captel, and P84.8-million renovation and construction of Mambukal Mountain Resort Hotel and Convention Center.
Escalante said the governor ordered to stop the rehabilitation of PAC after realizing it would be advantageous to the province to have a new modern building, especially that Capitol operation is expanding and demand for more spaces is also becoming bigger.
"Dynamic Builders is seriously considering of putting their investment on Capitol property,” Escalante said, adding that the area eyed for PPP project with the firm is the ground floor of PAC.
It will start with the portion facing the Negros Occidental Multi-Purpose Gym up to the area adjacent to the Sweet City Captel, he also said.
Marañon said the province remains open to more partnerships with more number of investors.
“Competition will result in better services unlike of monopoly where one does whatever it wants,” he added.