Marañon gets nod to negotiate P1.2-B deal

Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr.

BACOLOD City – The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Negros Occidental has authorized Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. to negotiate for a P1.2-billion “public-private partnership in the province,” or P4.

The proposed P1.2-billion Capitol Commercial Center will rise on the property occupied by the Provincial Administration Center (PAC), right across the provincial capitol building.

In a resolution the Provincial Board allowed the governor, through the P4 Selection Committee, to negotiate and agree with the Dynamic Builders and Construction Co., Inc. on the terms and conditions involving the lease of the 6,484-square meter PAC property.

The P4 Selection Committee comprises the Provincial Board; the capitol’s Legal, Budget, Treasurer’s, and Accounting offices; and three nongovernment organizations.

Dynamic Builders initially offered to lease the property for 50 years at P78 per square meter per month, said Board member Salvador Escalante Jr., who sat as vice governor and presided the June 27 session.

Vice Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson is currently acting governor while Marañon was in the United States.

“It’s now up to the Selection Committee to negotiate – I hope – for much better terms for the province,” Escalante said.

The Capitol Commercial Center is a mix-use commercial structure mainly for business process outsourcing and a hotel.

Escalante said the governor received the proposal for the P4 project in May this year. After which, Marañon issued an executive order creating the Selection Committee.

Escalante said the provincial government is looking to use the revenue from the lease contract with Dynamic Builders for the development of a new PAC building.

It will complement the income the province can source from its other revenue-generating properties, he said.

Earlier capitol allotted some P180 million for the repair and construction of the PAC – which Dynamic Builders will also undertake as contractor.

But Dynamic Builders is willing to surrender the contract without additional cost to the province, Escalante said. “In lieu of the contract, the firm offered the P4 project.”

Another bidding process will be conducted for the six-story PAC building.

The new PAC building will house other capitol offices on a one-hectare site along with an additional 3,000-square meter lot across the National Bureau of Investigation – Bacolod office.

Escalante said the building plan and detailed engineering works for the new PAC building being drafted by the Provincial Engineer’s Office is now “90 percent complete.” (With Philippine News Agency/PN)

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here