In response to the temporary restraining order filed before the Bacolod City Regional Trial Court pertaining to the P1.7 billion loan the city government plans to borrow from the Development Bank of the Philippines, Grupo Progreso (GP), Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia’s political coalition, called it “politicking” and a scheme to “delay and stop the developments of the city.”

Bacolod City Councilor Caesar Distrito, who is currently serving as acting vice mayor, reiterated earlier points made regarding the loan, noting, “The law does not require a public hearing.”

With regard to allegations brought forward by Atty. Cesar Beloria, Jr., legal counsel for Bacolod City mayoral candidate, former Bacolod City Councilor Jocelle Batapa-Sigue; candidate for Bacolod City vice mayor, former Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson; and businessman Antonio Wong, claiming invitations to hearings on the loan last November were only extended to Leonardia allies, Distrito insisted, “The public was invited.”

He went on to assert, news surrounding the hearings were reported in local media, claiming, “Nobody among the opposition attended.”

GP members also discussed the benefits of the projects the loan intends to support.

Bacolod City Sangguniang Kabataan Federation President Ayesha Joy Villaflor, who, through the post, sits on the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP), said of the proposed Bacolod MassKara Coliseum, which is earmarked at P800 million, “Why is it that Bacolod City cannot have its own coliseum?”

“Sports and large convention venues are also necessary, considering that Bacolod is a highly-urbanized city,” she said. “We are among the top choices in hosting major events.”

City Councilor Cindy Rojas backed the plans for enhancements to Bacolod City College (BCC), which amount to P350 million, saying, “Once the BCC expansion is finished, it will be able to accommodate thousands of indigent college students.”

The loan is expected to finance the construction of four buildings and a gymnasium.

In terms of the P350 million allocation for the Progreso Village relocation site, City Councilor Renecito Novero said it will “benefit thousands of informal settlers.”

As for the P200 million intended for various road and bridge projects, Bacolod City Association of Barangay Captains President Gles Gonzales-Pallen, who also sits on the SP, said projects include rehabilitation of the Mansilingan-Handumanan-Felisa road, construction of the Vista Alegre-Granada bridge and Gonzaga Bridge, reconstruction of the Lacson Extension Bridge, and developments to Hilado Road in Shopping and other major thoroughfares.

Earlier this week, Batapa-Sigue said they filed the restraining order, claiming, the loan has many procedural flaws and, as leaders of the city, they cannot brush aside procedure.

“We have nothing else to do but to escalate this before the courts on behalf of the citizens of Bacolod that are asking for time to take a close look of the transaction,” she said./DGB, WDJ