By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson yesterday announced the provincial government will be clearing the 30 gardeners from the Panaad Park and Stadium in Bacolod City’s Barangay Mansilingan on Saturday, November 23.
“There is no memorandum of agreement between them and the provincial government,” he explained. “The province has not even charged them anything.”
Lacson added, the gardeners are “making it their source of income at the expense of the Capitol.”
The space the gardeners are occupying will be used the provincial government, with the governor noting, “We need to clear the area as we start the major renovation of the facility.”
“We are looking at areas for parking spaces,” he added.
Lacson said they may provide space for the gardeners in the future but affirmed they will do it legally.
When pressed on the chance they may encounter resistance, the governor said he will leave the matter to the Provincial Legal Office.
Meanwhile, he said preparations for the renovation are underway with bidding for the construction of a new rubberized track oval already finished and currently being assessed.
Lacson also said all the sporting facilities within the Panaad will be renovated, including roofing for the grandstand.
He quoted initial estimates for the renovation at P10 million./DGB, WDJ