By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Bacolod City government said President Rodrigo Duterte will be invited for the groundbreaking of two major projects in the city, the P800 million Bacolod Masskara Coliseum and the P163 million Bacolod Museum. Mayor Evelio Leonardia said groundbreakings for both projects are targeted for the first quarter of this year.
The mayor pointed out, a contract for the construction of the coliseum is already in place while the museum is subject to a budget allocation, which Senator Miguel Zubiri earlier said he was lobbying for.
The senator said he lobbied for the museum’s P163 million budget, which will include certain allocations. He explained, the museum will also have an auditorium where events, meetings, and other activities can be held.
Zubiri noted, the structure will have a “leaf design” and described it as a “little version of the Sydney Opera House.”
The projects are funded by the P1.7 billion loan the city government earlier borrowed from the Development Bank of the Philippines. The amount is also expected to fund construction of the P350 million Progreso Village relocation site, the P350 million Bacolod City College site and facility development project, and P200 million in roads and bridges.
The two structures will be built on a 7.4-hectare property donated by Vallacar Transit Inc., the Yanson Realty Development Corporation, and Olivia Yanson./DGB, WDJ