The Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod finally granted the request of Mayor Evelio Leonardia for authority to sign the contract with the winning bidder for the construction and site development of the new government center.

In a special session Saturday, 10 voted in favor, three abstained and only Councilor Elmer Sy voted against granting the mayor authority to enter into the contract with Hilmarc's Construction Corp.

Those who voted in favor were Councilors Marx Louie de la Rosa, Arturo Parreno, Ana Marie Palermo, Jocelle Batapa-Sigue,Greg Gasataya, Homer Bais, Jude Thaddeus Sayson, Dindo Ramos, Al Victor Espino and Napoleon Cordova.

Councilors Lyndon Caña, Reynold Iledan and Catalino Alisbo abstained. Caña, however, also said he reaffirms the need for a government center and added that its desirability and necessity cannot be denied.

He said although criticized for undertaking the project late into the last months of his administration, and for resorting to an untested and very controversial, somewhat inadequate law (R.A. 9184), he feels that the effort of the Mayor for taking the greatest and most serious effort to pursue the project, something which has been just talked about for 40 years but never done, deserves to be recognized.

However, he also said there is a serious and fatal defiance or disregard, in the contract, of a legislative intent or policy set forth by the SP which he cannot overlook, forgive or ratify.

Caña, however, did not vote no, but only abstained.

He said he believes Alisbo and Iledan saw the same problems in the process, while Sy said he believes there should be an appropriation ordinance passed by the city.

Meanwhile, in an interview over Super Radyo, Leonardia said he is happy that his request has been granted by the SP, with a big majority of its members voting in the affirmative.

He said he hopes this voting will show the people who are acting according to their own agenda. This is what will identify the officials who are for development and who are not afraid to act decisively for the progress of the city.

Leonardia pointed out that Councilor Marx Louie de la Rosa, who represents the youth in the council, took a specific stand, because he looks towards the future and believes his generation will benefit from the project.

With this development, he said, referring to the SP vote, it is likely that the project will now proceed, since construction can start within the deadline set by the lot donors, which is December 31.

Leonardia said he was informed by BAC chairman Goldwyn Nifras that once HCC is given notice to proceed, it will start the construction of the project even before it receives a single centavo from the city.

Vice Mayor Renecito Novero said that, after almost two weeks of marathon sessions, the SP did its job as it should.

He said that, whether the SP members' opinions were right or wrong will still depend on the subjective judgement of the people.

Novero said he had been advising the members to decide on the basis of their conviction, not convenience. He said the authority given the Mayor has 14 colatillas, or conditions.

He said the SP saw to it that the interest of the city and that of the SP will be protected in the implementation of the project.*CGS

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