A public hearing on the proposed new City Hall site will be held by the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod Feb. 15 at 3 p.m. at the Liga ng mga Barangay Hall in Bacolod City.

Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia said he will hold a caucus next week with the SP members and, after the first meeting, they could zero in on which proposals to focus on.

"We have to consider the time frame since out term of office is until 2007," he said. "If we do not start this year, we might have difficulty pursuing our plans especially because prices of materials are increasing," he added.

Leonardia said he was informed by Talisay Mayor Eric Saratan that Iloilo Mayor Jerry Treñas has sent a team to visit their city hall because Iloilo is now considering putting up a new government center. "If we cannot put our acts together, Iloilo might be able to put up a new city hall ahead of Bacolod and we do not want that to happen," he said.

Leonardia said he is encouraging a build-operate-transfer scheme for other big projects of the city, like the bus terminal, slaughterhouse and other projects, which can generate income. If the city has to obtain a loan, it should only be used for the new city hall, he said. The new city hall is a project that will last for centuries and is something that can be considered a gift to the people because they deserve it, he added.

The SP has set the final deadline for all offers for a new city hall site for Bacolod on Monday.*CGS

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