By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga
The investigation into the Negros First Animal Hub, located at the Panaad Park and Stadium in Bacolod City, is already complete, however, Negros Occidental Assistant Provincial Legal Officer, Atty. Mary Ann Lamis, said the results remain “confidential.”
Lamis, who heads the investigation team, said, once all team members sign the findings, it will be submitted to Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr., who will decide on how to proceed.
“The actual findings are already finished,” she said, adding, the results will also include a recommendation on what to do with the existing structure, which was constructed without any notice to proceed nor a formal public bidding process.
With regard to the public disclosure of the findings, Lamis reiterated, “It will depend on the governor.”
“I consulted the Civil Service Commission and oriented them [on] the limits of what we can disclose to the public,” she added. “The result is for the eyes of the governor.”
Lamis also pointed out, “We made recommendations but I cannot reveal what they are.”
She noted, they are holding “some people accountable” but refused to provide any further details.
Lamis also did not confirm if they had contacted Eva Roon, the supplier who admitted to financing the project’s construction.
Other members of the investigation team include Provincial Agriculturist, Atty. Japhet Masculino; Provincial Budget Officer Percival Salado; Ruby Barbosa of the Provincial Accounting Office; and Lucile Pines of the Provincial General Services Office.
The animal hub, with a budget of P10 million, includes an auction area, animal pens, a training center, a laboratory for research and development, and a demonstration room.
The hub is intended to provide lower auction service fees to animal raisers in the province, resulting in lower production costs.
Back in March, Marañon earlier halted construction, which was reportedly almost 80 percent complete, after the Provincial Capitol Bids and Awards Committee informed him about the infraction.
The governor added, he was unaware of the ongoing construction.
Construction reportedly began when Provincial Veterinarian, Dr. Renante Decena, was on leave and around the same time then-Panaad Park and Stadium officer-in-charge Ian de Ramos died, the governor previously noted./DGB, WDJ