By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The controversial Negros Occidental Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) Animal Hub at the Panaad Park and Stadium in Bacolod City’s Barangay Mansilingan is being eyed for conversion into an athletes quarters.

This was revealed during Sangguniang Panlalawigan’s (SP) budget deliberations recently wherein Provincial Sports Consultant Anthony Carlo Agustin proposed a P30 million budget for the structure to be converted into an athletes quarters next year.

Under the proposal the completion of the two-storey building will include sleeping quarters and a function hall for meetings.

The proposal is also part of the ongoing renovation works at the park’s sports facilities.

In 2018, the late Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr. said he was unaware of the animal hub’s construction, revealing he only learned about it during the opening day of the 25th Panaad sa Negros Festival.

The issue was earlier brought forward after I Watch Negros Occidental, Inc. found the construction project had not gone through a bidding process.

“I don’t even know who is the contractor,” the  late governor added.

The construction of the facility was later halted while an investigation was carried out. Following the completion of the investigation, the facility was offered for donation to the provincial government.

Marañon’s successor, Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, was later given the authority by the SP to accept the donation of the facility.

The P4-million facility should have included animal pens with rails, a drainage system, auctioneer’s bleachers, and an administration building./DGB, WDJ