Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson confirmed today, December 15, the plan to transfer the seat of government of Negros Occidental from Bacolod City to a 25-hectare property it owns in Talisay City, which will create a new growth center for the province.
Lacson, in reaction to a DIGICAST NEGROS report Monday, December 14, of the planned transfer disclosed by Alfredo Benitez, provincial consultant on economic affairs, said “yes we’re thinking along that line.”
“If we decide to really move then we will start next year” by making computations of the cost, Lacson said.
The close to P1 billion budget set for the construction of a new Provincial Administration Center (PAC) at Aguinaldo Street in Bacolod will instead be used for the new seat of government in Talisay City, he said.
Lacson said the 25-hectare property purchased during the term of then governor Alfredo Maranon Jr. is located along the Bacolod–Silay Airport Access Road.
The governor said if they continue building the new Provincial Administration Center next to the old PAC at Aguinaldo Street in Bacolod City it will be so crowded as they are already having a problem with parking.
He also pointed out that the old PAC beside it is set to be converted into a commercial building.
Discussion on the plan to transfer the provincial government offices to Talisay City began last year, he said.
“I have also asked some of our local chief executives and they like the idea, in fact, some of them have told me that that was also a plan of the previous administration,” Lacson said.
They are really considering moving to Talisay as the 25-hectare property can also be used for regional offices, he added.
Lascon said he will be seeking the wisdom of the business sector on the plan.
The Capitol building in Bacolod City will continue to be maintained by the provincial government, he assured.
“It can be used for special functions, it will be put to good use,” he said.
Lacson said the plan to move the seat of the provincial government in Talisay City has nothing to do with an alleged conflict with Bacolod City officials during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It is really just taking advantage of our government property in Talisay and creating a new growth center,” he said.
It is hard for the seat of the provincial government to be located in a jurisdiction it does not control, Benitez said earlier.
Bacolod City is a highly urbanized city that is not under the jurisdiction of the Negros Occidental provincial government.
NEDA MASTER PLAN
The business community welcomes the move since it will create a new growth area for the province, Frank Carbon, Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive officer, said.
Carbon said the announcement of the transfer of the seat of the provincial government to Talisay City is perfect timing.
The National Economic and Development Authority in Region 6 has hired a consultant to make the Metro Bacolod infrastructure master plan, he said.
Metro Bacolod is composed of Bago, Talisay, Silay and Bacolod cities, and Murcia town, he said.
An urban plan is needed so Bacolod can be decongested and the transfer of the seat of government to Talisay City will be good for business, he said.
That should be considered in the NEDA master plan, Carbon added.
CYBER CENTER
Meanwhile, Lacson said the provincial government takeover of the management of Negros First CyberCentre in Bacolod City will be finalized in a meeting after the holidays.
Benitez said the Negros Property Management and Development Corp. has agreed to return the management of the Negros First CyberCentre in Bacolod City to the provincial government.*