Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia submitted his request for authority to negotiate and secure a loan of P400 million from any local government bank for the construction of a new city government center for Bacolod City to the Sangguniang Panlungsod Tuesday.

The Mayor had issued Executive Order No. 6 on March 14, 2006, ordering the construction of a city government center in Brgy. Taculing, Bacolod City.

The Executive Order is based on SP Resolution No. 96 dated Jan. 26, 2006, "declaring the inadequacy of the present City Hall site and declaring the need for another site to augment the present site."

Leonardia said his request for authority to negotiate and secure a loan will be taken up by the SP during the session today.

The Mayor met with the SP members yesterday to inform them of his request and specified that it can be any government bank.

Leonardia said, "If they approve and grant the authority, the banks will be asked to appear before the SP so it can determine which one can offer the most advantageous terms and conditions to the city. Once a bank has been chosen, he will write the SP again to request for authority to sign the loan agreement, he said.

If we deal with government banks everything will be transparent and the collateral to be used is the Internal Revenue Allotment of the city, Leonardia said. He said Bacolod City has the biggest IRA in Western Visayas, the last time was about P387 million and could even increase.

Leonardia said, personally, he would prefer a longer loan term because it will mean a smaller amount of amortization. "I believe the project is so meritorious that it is going to be irresistible," he said.

When informed that another signature campaign is being launched in Taculing by barangay officials opposing the construction of the project in their area, Leonardia said "They should not torpedo the hopes and aspirations of the people of Bacolod."

Residents of Taculing who favor the project reportedly are also initiating a signature drive in their barangay.

Leonardia said "It is bad enough that he (referring to Taculing Brgy. Captain Rommel Sanson) has committed something like treason against his people in Taculing, now he is going to sabotage the whole project." It's also like digging his own political grave in Taculing, he added.

Sanson, in a radio interview, admitted that he was one of those who had filed a petition to recall Leonardia and added that he is a supporter of former Bacolod Mayor Oscar Verdeflor.

Leonardia said he does not believe the campaign being launched against the project will affect the decision of the SP. He said he does not believe that the SP will decide on the matter as if it were a popularity contest. It's a matter that has been studied for the purpose of giving better services to the people of Bacolod, he added.

Leonardia said the concept and implementation of the project have already been presented to the SP by the committee tasked to study, evaluate and recommend it.*CGS

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