Board member points to Marañon administration consultant
By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Negros Occidental Provincial Board recently approved a resolution ejecting the Negros Cooperative Bank from an agreement pertaining to the Capitol Park and Lagoon. According to Board Member Andrew Montelibano, who authored the resolution, the bank “violated its deed of usufruct with the provincial government.” A usufruct agreement permits an outside party to use a piece of property for a period of time.
The provincial official claimed, under the contract, using the land is free but the bank must pay for utilities. He added, the Provincial Legal Office looked into the matter and, through the Provincial Engineer’s Office, found the bank’s electrical connection was attached to the Provincial Capitol building.
“That is not right,” Montelibano said. “They are doing business but it seems that from land and utilities all is free, courtesy of the Capitol.”
He added, they still have to check if the bank has a sub-meter or is tapping directly into the Capitol’s line.
The board member then said there is a conflict of interest associated with the agreement, pointing to Nestor Bayona, who serves as consultant for cooperative development during the administration of former Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr.
Montelibano said the board is done with the matter and it now sits with the Provincial Legal Office.
Bayona has yet to issue a statement on the development./DGB, WDJ