Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia created subcommittees to look into the technical, financial and legal aspect of the re-negotiation with the Bacolod Real Estate Development Corp. during a joint caucus at City Hall Friday.

Leonardia had recommended that both the executive and legislative jointly pursue re-negotiation with BREDCO for 60 days.

The issue involved is the Comprehensive Revised Reclamation Agreement between the city and BREDCO that was reviewed by the executive working group and the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod recently.

The subcommittee that will look into the technical aspect is composed of the City Engineer and the City Planning Officer and Councilor Elmer Sy. The financial aspect will be handled by the City Treasurer, Secretary to the Mayor Roger Balo, and Councilors Al Victor Espino and Arturo Parreño, while the legal aspect will be handled by City Legal Officer Allan Zamora and Councilor Ana Marie Palermo.

BREDCO president Simplicio Palanca has been asked to submit the names of BREDCO representatives in the re-negotiation and was also informed of the composition of the executive-legislative panel.

Leonardia said they also asked BREDCO to submit the master development plan of the Reclamation Area including technical drawings, that have been complied with, except for the financial statement which they have not yet submitted. He said the next executive-legislative caucus is on Dec. 20.

Palermo said the 60 days will start when they begin the re-negotiation with BREDCO.

Meanwhile, Balo said they have involved the department heads in the budget hearings because all of them were asked to submit the budget needed by their offices and had been given a schedule to explain their request, contrary to what Espino claimed.

Espino had said he found out that the department heads were not able to discuss their budget with the executive, during his meetings with them. He said that if no executive-legislative meeting will be held to thresh out the questions of the SP, the city will function on a reenacted budget.

Leonardia said he does not believe the department heads were not involved in the budget hearings and challenged those who are complaining to come forward.

Balo said a P675 million budget had been requested for 2006 since it is the only available fund certified by the City Treasurer. He said the proposed 2006 budget was only a P25 million increase over that of last year's which was P650 million. He also said he does not believe the department heads will complain, because they held a meeting.*CGS

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