An ordinance authorizing the transfer of the present City Hall to a better location was passed by the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod on first reading Thursday.

The ordinance was proposed by Councilors Elmer Sy, Arturo Parreño and Jocelle Batapa-Sigue of the Committee on Urban Development.

It pointed out that the present City Hall, especially its structures, building and grounds is already crowded, cluttered and no longer conducive, favorable and advantageous to the day-to-day fast-paced operations of the local government in efficiently and effectively delivering and providing the basic and necessary services to its constituents and clientele.

It said Bacolod City is currently spending almost half a million pesos annually in rentals of office spaces owned by private individuals and companies to serve as offices of some of its departments. It also said the transfer of the seat of government from the present City Hall to a new site will maximize the city's full potential as one of the country's growth areas, increase savings on gasoline cost and fare for office-to-office transactions, and solve the lack of parking space, among others.

Meanwhile, the Barangay Council of Brgy. Mansilingan passed a resolution last week expressing support for the offer of former Bacolod Councilor Juan Ramon Guanzon to donate 5 hectares of his property for the construction of a new city hall for Bacolod. Out of the 17 lots presented during a public hearing Wednesday, three are confirmed donations, while the rest are either for sale, or partially donated with some portions offered for sale. Also three are city-owned and one is either for sale or for joint venture.

Eduardo Alunan, in a to letter Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia dated Feb. 17, said that the Alunan family and its company, Rafael Alunan Agro-Development, Inc, wish to voluntarily donate to the city, 50,000 square meters of their property located in Brgy. Mandalagan, subject to certain terms and conditions.

Among the terms and conditions cited in the letter is that the donor shall provide right of way to its adjoining land leading to the donated property from Buri Road, and that no portion of the donated property shall be utilized by the city government for commercial purposes.

In his letter, Alunan cited salient points of the location of the property, such as, it is located in-land in an area free from air and noise pollution, safe from salt-water induced corrosion, thus making it conducive to effective, efficient and professional governance. It will help decongest the downtown area's high vehicular and pedestrian traffic, and create an "uptown," new growth center, bringing with it increased commerce and trade.

It is near a city government-owned property (Carlos Hilado Highway-Buri Road), ideal for a north bus terminal or other purposes. The property, compared to other areas offered, is closest to the proposed extension of the Circumferential Road that will become Bacolod's gateway to and from the new Silay Airport, Alunan also said.*CGS

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