• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The municipality Don Salvador Benedicto, known as the “Summer Capital of Negros Occidental”, is inching towards the realization of its dream of having a new government center.
Mayor Laurence Marxlen Dela Cruz said on Saturday that a government and activity center will soon rise on a 17-hectare property purchased by the municipality in Barangay Igmaya-an.
Dela Cruz said they are awaiting the issuance and transfer of the land title to the name of Don Salvador Benedicto.
He said that they have already conducted the road profiling for the construction of the government center’s grand entrance about a kilometer straight from the national highway.
“The success of a new area is the road leading there. It says it all,” De la Cruz added.
With the support of Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go and First District Rep. Gerardo Valmayor, an initial budget of P20 million has been allocated for the road concreting, the mayor said.
Dela Cruz said that all government offices will be situated in the government center, and they have plans to provide commercial spaces for return on investment.
It will follow only after the installation of government structures in the area, he said.
De la Cruz also bared the plan to construct an event center for the municipality to host big conventions or concerts in the future.
A new plaza will be constructed facing the municipal hall as well as passenger and food terminals, he added.
De la Cruz said they are also looking into the possibility of building an open- air amphitheater using other available spaces in the government center.
The municipality of Don Salvador Benedicto opened its 41st founding anniversary on Feb. 3, with the theme “All the Best at 41st”, and the 31st Kali-Kalihan Festival. | GB
