An ordinance establishing guidelines and procedures for the selection of a new site or the establishment of a new government center for Bacolod City was approved on first reading yesterday by the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod.

The proposed ordinance provides that the City Legal Office shall undertake the research and report on whether the present site, which has been donated, has conditionalities and whether these would be violated if the City Hall is transferred to a new site. The CLO shall undertake the research and report within 30 days upon the passage of the ordinance, it says.

In the event that a decision is made to transfer the local seat of government to a new site, a team composed of the City Planning and Development Office, City Engineer's Office and Office of the City Administrator shall submit a report and recommendation to the Mayor and the SP as to what shall be done with the present, old site.

Bacolod Councilor Lyndon Caña, proponent of the ordinance, said the selection and transfer of local government site, offices or facilities is a direct provision of R.A. 7160, particularly Section 11.

Meanwhile, businessman Vic Tan said the city needs to have a new city hall as the present government center had been condemned as a fire hazard about 8 years ago.

Tan, the former chief of the Filipino-Chinese Chamber Volunteer Fire Brigade, in his speech before the SP during the public hearing Wednesday, recalled that fire had broken out at the fourth floor of the City Hall due to faulty electrical wiring during the Montelibano administration.

"This all the more underscores the need for us to fast-track the building of a new government center for the city," Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia said during the presentation of the 17 lots being considered for the site of the new city hall of Bacolod City held at the SP session hall.

Bacolod Vice Mayor Renecito Novero yesterday said the city officials will meet again Saturday to come to a common choice. He said they will also discuss the modes of acquiring and funding the city hall project which he said might cost the city about P300 million.

The Gensoli family, on the other hand, clarified yesterday that they are not donating their property.*CGS

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