Marañon calls this "politicking": PB fails to act on loan request for 3 projects

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. accused Tuesday the Provincial Board members and Vice Governor Genaro Alvarez Jr. of “politicking” for their alleged inaction on his request for a P240-million loan to fund the three projects of the provincial government.

The governor claimed that the decision of the PB, presided by Alvarez, to withhold the approval for loan was not based on whether the projects are good for the province, but on “political convenience.” He said the projects will benefit the people of Negros Occidental, but the PB was allegedly blocking these for political reasons. Marañon and Alvarez have declared their plans to run for governor in 2013.

Since July, Marañon had requested for the passage of a resolution authorizing him to negotiate with the Land Bank of the Philippines and to sign for and in behalf of the provincial government all loan documents for the projects.

The loans, totaling P240 million, were for Phase 2 construction of the Negros First Cyber Center at the Paglaum Sports Complex (P170 million), construction of the Provincial Administration Center annex 3-storey building (P50 million) and additional classrooms at the annex building of Negros Occidental High School (P10 million).

The PB finance committee, chaired by PB Member Salvador Escalante Jr, endorsed the request, but this was slashed to P180 million, or P170 million for the Cyber Center and P10 million for the NOHS classrooms.

Recently, the PB was unable to hold a session for lack of quorum (on July 11 and August 29) and failed to tackle Marañon’s request for the loan. Rumors said several PB members were disgruntled with the governor. Last August 15, the PB held its regular session but it still did not tackle his request.

In a separate interview yesterday, Alvarez said the PB questioned the P10-million fund for six additional classrooms for the NOHS. He argued that the Capitol’s earlier agreement with NOHS stated that it will build only 24 classrooms costing P40 million.

“The 24 classrooms have already been constructed. What’s the reason to add six more?” he said, as he quoted the PB members as saying that the P10 million for classrooms could be given to schools outside Bacolod like in Bago and Sagay cities.

Marañon however countered that NOHS now has about 5,000 students and it lacks classrooms. He said although it is in Bacolod, which is outside the political jurisdiction of the provincial government, the provincial government should transcend politics in matters concerning educational needs of Negrenses.

There is no boundary between Bacolod and Bago, Murcia, and Talisay, he said. “We are one province, one nation. We should help each other. The progressive LGUs (local government units) should help the poor ones,” he said.

On the Cyber Center project, Alvarez said the PB also questioned the P170-million loan for the second phase because the first phase, worth P450 million, is not even 20 percent finished yet.

Alvarez said he would agree with the P170 million if it will be spent for the embedded structures for the first phase like electrical connections, but if it is for parking space, gates or decorations, it could wait until the first phase is 80 percent complete. “The PB is not strict, that is their opinion and sentiments. I only preside, I only approve or disapprove,” he added.

Marañon rebutted Alvarez by saying that works for the Cyber Center is more than 20 percent complete. He said the PB approved the P450-million loan (for first phase) and there was no politicking involved. Now it disapproved the loan for the second phase for political convenience, he added.  – THE FREEMAN