A leading radio commentator and media executive is calling on Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson to form a Technical Working Group that will do a comprehensive study of the transfer of the Capitol site from Bacolod City to Talisay City.
“The governor must form a Technical group – composed of experts in engineering, agriculture and environment – to ensure that the new site will meet the standard requirements,” said Dr. Jeony Bigay, station manager of RMN-DYHB and co-host of “Straight to the Point” which was named Best Public Affairs Program in the national KBP-Golden Dove Award in 2018.
Dr. Bigay, in an interview with NEGROS NOW DAILY, said that to his knowledge, no technical committee has been tasked to conduct a thorough study for the transfer. It appears like a political decision, he said.
Gov. Lacson announced the plan to transfer the Capitol last month, with mayors eventually expressing their support to the plan.
The site is a 25-ha. lot located in Barangay Matab-ang, about 2 kms. east of the Talisay City Hall.
It was acquired during the term of the late Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. and was intended as location of the Provincial Engineering Office and its equipment, as well as the Capitol employees’ housing program.
A P900-million loan was acquired by the Marañon administration for the construction of a high-rise Provincial Administration Center right on the present location of the old PAC building.
Bigay also articulated the non-holding of a public hearing or consultation to elicit the voice of stakeholders about the plan.
A public consultation, he underscored, serves as the basis of decisions made by our officials. He added that he has not heard of any move by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan assembled purposely for the planned transfer tasked to conduct a hearing attended by various stakeholders and sectors.
As the plan involves the seat of the provincial government, there must be a thorough study not only of the building itself but also of the improvements that may be introduced in the future, considering it is an agricultural area, said Dr. Bigay, who is also a Public Administration professor handling masteral and doctoral classes.
Referring to the floods that hit northern Negros, including Talisay City, early this month, Bigay said the site of development becomes a major concern. “One thing for sure is the consideration for the elevation of the site in relation to the elevation of the nearest road.”
He noted that the planned site of the Capitol is situated lower than the highway. At the same time, he pointed out that the new site development will require voluminous construction aggregates – the byproducts of quarrying.
With the recent flash-floods attributed by officials to quarrying, among others, environmental damage is also expected, he further said.
Dr. Bigay, who had earlier aired his views in his radio program iterated that he believes the plan to transfer the Capitol must not be opposed.
The site of the new Capitol must be studied thoroughly as the government may end up spending more for the site development than the structure, he said, “but that is just secondary because what is most important is its impact to the environment,” he said. – AVDC
