All mayors in Negros Occidental support the plan to transfer the Provincial Capitol Building from Bacolod City to Talisay City, Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said.
Lacson, who presided over the virtual meeting of all Negros Occidental local chief executives, said that the proposal was unanimously approved.
He said the Negros ACE (Association of Chief Executives) committed to pass a resolution supporting the move, which the governor hopes will start this year.
The new Provincial Capitol Building, originally proposed by the previous administration to be constructed at Aguinaldo Street in Bacolod City, has a budget of closed to P1 billion.
It will be constructed at the 25-hectare property purchased by the provincial government in Barangay Matab-ang, Talisay City.
“If it goes well, then we will notify the contractor that we are moving. We will ask them to build the building in Talisay City,” Lacson said.
But he said that the proposal will still be subject to approval and concurrence of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Negros Occidental which will conduct a public hearing to get the sentiments of the business sector.
While the provincial Capitol building will be relocated to Talisay City, Bacolod will remain as the capital of Negros Occidental, Lacson said.
“Nobody even dared to propose that,” the governor said, adding that they did not discuss changing the capital of the province.
Lacson also assured the mayors that the old Provincial Capitol Building will still be maintained for social functions. — GB
