Bacolod City Administrator Lorendo Dilag yesterday said the city government is applying for non-coverage or exemption from the Environmental Compliance Certificate in the construction of the new government center.

Dilag said the ECC is important in industrial development like ports, factories, among others. But the government center is a mere building and he believes the city can secure an ECC exemption, he said. However, he said, the city is now working to secure an ECC with the assistance of the winning bidder, Hilmarc's Construction Corp.

He said they are also accomplishing the building permit.

Dilag said the city has already furnished Land Bank of the Philippines the documents it had required for the release of the P400 million loan. He believes the initial 15 percent mobilization fund will be released by the bank on the third week of January, he said.

Meanwhile, Dilag said the government center project is a big legacy to the people. He said if somebody tries to derail the release of the loan out of jealousy, he considers it a criminal act because they have done everything to pursue it and the project has already taken off.

Dilag was reacting to reports that an influential person has tried to lobby with LBP officials in Manila not to release the loan.

"Whoever he is, he is anti-people and does not deserve to be re-elected," Dilag said.*CGS

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