The Department of Education has refused the demand of the Province of Negros Occidental to return the Paglaum Sports Complex to its ownership, Provincial Schools Superintendent Eva Belicena said yesterday.

This was disclosed by Belicena after meeting with Gov. Joseph Marañon together with Negros Occidental High School principal Nilda Monge and Alumni Association president Pompeyo Querubin at the Capitol yesterday.

She told the DAILY STAR in a telephone interview that DepEd has already replied in a letter to the governor where it stated that it cannot return the property to the province because it has already been donated.

Belicena said she does not yet have a copy of the letter but learned about it from Marañon.

The DepEd said it cannot return the property, but it is open to exploring options on how the property can be used, she said.

Belicena said that her office is coordinating with the DepEd central office regarding its decision, but she had not talked yet to a top department official as of press time yesterday.

She said that whatever options will be decided, the DepEd, led by Secretary Fe Hildalgo, will present it to the NOHS Parents-Teachers Association and Alumni Association.

They will also present the master plan of the province, she said.

In March, Marañon wrote to Hidalgo formally demanding that the DepEd return to the province the ownership of the sports complex within 15 days from receipt of his letter. The governor had also said he hopes all the parties involved will agree to their proposal so that the provincial government can have the sports complex back and avoid a legal battle.

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan has already passed a resolution granting Marañon authority to take the necessary legal steps to revoke its donation which came after reports that the DepEd has failed to properly maintain it as required in the deed of donation dated June 17, 1996.

The present management plan being proposed by the DepEd for Paglaum is for the Philippine Sports Commission to take over, a proposal opposed by Marañon.*NLG

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