Four councilors voted against while seven voted in favor of the proposed ordinance, which seeks to change the name of the New Government Center into the People’s House of Bacolod, during the session of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, Wednesday. The proposed law authored by Councilor Claudio Jesus Raymundo Puentevella was passed on second reading by 7-4 votes. Those who opposed the ordinance were Councilors Carl Lopez, Caesar Distrito, EmAngand Roberto “Bobby” Rojas while Councilors Wilson “Jun” Gamboa Jr, Archie Baribar, Alex Paglumotan, Ana Marie Palermo, Sonya Verdeflor, NoliVillarosa and Puentevella supported it. Councilors Jocelle Batapa-Sigue and El Cid Familiaran were out during the voting. Distrito, in a statement, claimed that “to change the name of the Government Center as the People’s House is not compliant to the provisions of the Local Government, particularly Section 12.” Distrito, chairman of the SP Committee on Government Assets, said the Local Government Code empowers the LGU to create a Government Center and therefore the law itself names the buildingas the Government Center. Distrito pointed out that the Deed of Donation of the property where the building is located and several ordinances of the City have recognized that the building should be known as the New Government Center or Bacolod Government Center. Distrito said if ever the building shall be renamed,a unanimous vote of the city council is required under the law. Distrito said the people who were behind the realization of the Government Center tackled several cases against the construction of the building but they faced them and continued to persevere in order to build such iconic structure,which really brought pride, honor and made public service more convenient in the city. “So the name New Government Center or Bacolod Government Center should not be changed to give importance to the development that those people who worked hard for it have made in the city,”Distrito added. Ang, on the other hand also objected to the proposal saying that the name should not be changed as a show of respect and courtesy to the former city officials who pushed and worked hard to realize the construction of the building. Rojas and Lopez manifested that despite getting no objections from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the National Historical Commission (NHC),a lot of people in the city do not agree onrenamingthe Government Center as the People’s House. Meanwhile, Vice Mayor Gasataya said the edifice was constructed in 2008, and its name can only be changed after 10 years, as he quoted Distrito. Gasataya said the ordinance will be approved on third and final reading on Wednesday. When asked about the changes made on the welcome landmark prior to the approval of the ordinance by the SP,Gasataya said “the building officer should have waited for the passage of the ordinance before making any changes to it.” “Legally, I do not see any penalty but they should have waited,”Gasataya added./WDJ By Glazyl Jane Marie Y. Masculino Watchmen Daily Journal
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