By Erwin Nicavera/PNA
BACOLOD CITY — The Negros Occidental provincial government is seeking a loan from the Municipal Development Fund Office (MDFO) of the Department of Finance (DOF) to develop a housing sub-project for its employees.
The Provincial Board granted authority to Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. on Wednesday to negotiate for the loan, chairman of the committee on appropriation, budget and finance, said 2nd District Board Member Salvador Escalante Jr.
The total project amount will be determined after the completion of the detailed engineering and development plan, he added.
The housing project, which will rise on a 40-hectare property in Barangay Mansilingan, Bacolod City, will have 400 to 500 lots.
Escalante said the provincial government will implement the project on its own instead of partnering with a developer through a joint venture.
“(This way,) we can make sure the project cost will be reasonable,” he said.
Escalante said the development will include roads and parking spaces, among others.
Also on Wednesday, the Provincial Board approved a PHP50-million supplemental budget mainly intended for local government units (LGUs).
Of the total amount, PHP48 million was allocated as aid for LGUs and the rest, for the repair of a portion of the session hall.
Escalante said the source of fund is the PHP50-million allocation previously intended for the purchase of an aircraft for monitoring and cloud seeding operations.
“The initial plan did not push through so the fund was realigned for the aid requests of various cities and municipalities,” the board member said.
