Gamboa: The land was already donated under the previous administration
Bacolod City Councilor Wilson Gamboa, Jr. took to the radio airwaves over the weekend to clarify his position on the recently-announced deed of donations, pointing out, the loan donation by the Yanson family had been received under the previous administration of Bacolod City Mayor Monico Puentevella and questioned the current administration splitting the deed into two donations.
The city councilor explained on DYRL radio program “Barangay 1035,” the 7.3-hectare lot located along the Barangay Alijis-Pahanocoy Circumferential Road had been donated under the previous administration with the intention of constructing a southbound bus terminal and market. He said, with Puentevella losing reelection in 2016, the current administration of Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia allegedly “slept on” the issue and only raised it recently, most notably, with the current plans scrapping the proposed market and reducing the area for the transit hub to 1.5-hectares.
According to a press release, “It was substituted into the construction of their ‘masterpiece,’ which is the coliseum and a museum.”
The coliseum, earmarked at P800 million, is one of several projects planned to be financed through a P1.7 billion Development Bank of the Philippines loan the Bacolod City government plans on borrowing.
Gamboa said the amendments regarding the coliseum and museum will require “a thorough feasibility and simulation study on traffic.”
He added, the purpose of constructing a new southbound bus terminal was to reduce traffic congestion, noting, similar studies were conducted before construction of the northbound bus terminal in Barangay Bata.
Last week, the Bacolod City Sangguniang Panlungsod approved the amendments to the deed. The motion now awaits Leonardia’s signature.
In an earlier release by the city government, Bacolod City Councilor Caesar Distrito claimed the original deed situated the proposed southbound bus terminal “at the inner portion,” while the new plans places it “just at the roadside.”
He added, “We cannot afford to refuse the generosity of the Yanson family.”/WDJ
