Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia yesterday lauded the move of the Sangguniang Panglungsod, for unanimously passing a resolution authorizing him to negotiate a loan of P400 million from any government bank for the construction of a new government center for Bacolod City.

Leonardia called the SP's authorization a major step in the right direction for the development of the city. "I am thankful that the SP approved the authorization although I was confident that it could not thumb down a proposal that is meritorious and irresistible," the mayor, who issued Executive Order No. 6 on March 14, ordering the construction of a city government center in Brgy. Taculing, said.

However, the resolution, proposed by Councilor Al Victor Espino, chairman of the Committee on Finance and Appropriation, stated that it does not necessarily mean an approval of the Taculing site but only to expedite the process of securing a loan for the project.

Former Bacolod City councilor Juan Ramon Guanzon has also offered to donate a family-owned lot in Barangay Mansilingan as a site for the new city center.

Asked if he is closing the door on Guanzon's offer, Leonardia said he will stand by his choice since he has already evaluated the different offers.

But Vice-Mayor Renecito Novero said the Sanggunian has decided to call for a public hearing to know the consensus of Bacoleños on the site for the proposed government center.

Councilor Greg Gasataya had also proposed that a joint executive-legislative consultation be held in line with all the pending correspondences and other concerns previously raised regarding the site chosen by the Mayor. Espino also suggested that only objections which are valid and have technical basis should be considered.

The Executive Order is based on SP Resolution No. 96 dated Jan. 26, "declaring the inadequacy of the present City Hall site and declaring the need for another site to augment the present site."*CPT

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