Capitol consultant on information Rory Jon Sepulveda yesterday denied that the two-story province-owned building in sitio Sudlon, barangay Lahug, which will be leased by the National Statistics Office-7 starting August 16, is dilapidated.
Sepulveda’s statement came after reports that the building, which was formerly occupied by the Provincial Health Office, is falling to pieces.
The building was not yet complete when the province took over, Sepulveda said, and it was the province that finished it during the first term of Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia.
“Kay lagi ang building nabiyaan man og pipila ka mga tuig, naay angayang i-repair pero kana rang mga doorknobs ug dunay gamay’ng leaking. Does the building look dilapidated?” Sepulveda said.
Yesterday, the Provincial Board approved a resolution authorizing Gov. Garcia Garcia to enter into a contract with the NSO-7 for the latter’s lease of the two-storey Eco-Tech building in Sudlon.
PB members Juan Bolo and Wenceslao Gakit, sponsors of the proposed resolution, said that the contract may be renewed on a yearly basis after arrangements are final.
The contract was for NSO-7, through regional director Lilia Tandoc, to lease the province-owned building and its lot at P300,000 monthly over a 16-month period, starting on August 16, 2007 until December 31, 2008.
Under the contract, NSO-7, with the permission of the province, may, at its own expense introduce improvements, maintain and install lightings and fixtures, among others which shall not be removed anymore and will automatically belong to the provincial government.
Last month, the NSO-7 office closed the operations of its office along M.J. Cuenco Avenue to pave the way for its transfer to the building in Lahug.
With the temporary closure of the NSO-7 office, the public was directed to its satellite offices in the cities of Talisay, Danao, Bogo and Carcar, and the towns of Argao and Dalaguete. — Garry B. Lao/BRP