BACOLOD City – The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) will hold more public hearings on the proposed sale of a city government property where the Manokan Country is located. The city council has yet to reach the “meat of the matter” and determine if the property’s disposal is proper and its proposed pricing “just and equitable,” said Councilor Caesar Distrito, chairperson of the SP committee on government assets. Distrito’s committee held a public hearing on the matter yesterday together with the committee on laws, ordinances and good ordinance under Councilor Ana Marie Palermo, committee on urban poor housing under Councilor El Cid Familiaran, and committee on transportation under Councilor Alex Paglumotan. The city government is planning to sell its 13,783-square meter property at the Reclamation Area currently being occupied by illegal settlers, the People’s Market and Manokan Country after receiving an unsolicited proposal from SM Prime Holdings, Inc. The company wanted to buy the property at P20,500 per square meter. It intends to build on it a shopping complex with transport terminal, a hotel and an “improved” Manokan Country. The site being eyed by the property developer is located across the north wing of SM City Bacolod. The proposed sale, is being opposed by the Diocese of Bacolod and tenants of Manokan Country among other sectors. Reverend Father Ernie Larida, Diocese of Bacolod’s Social Action Center director, stressed during yesterday’s hearing that the city government should develop the site instead of selling it. Larida recalled the efforts of past administrations from whence sprung the Manokan Country. The area was originally a mere trading post for local barbecue vendors. Through the years, Manokan Country developed into a tourist attraction. The city government should look for more properties to buy and develop, not sell, stressed Larida. Mayor Monico Puentevella’s Executive Assistant Sarah Esguerra, City Legal Officer Aireen Bonghanoy and Acting City Administrator Jerome Solinap, meanwhile, all came to defend the proposed sale. The city government is losing money from the property because it is not being utilized properly, they explained. Citing a report of the appraisal committee that the mayor formed, some 26 tenants occupying the area owe the city government P6,574,721.64 in monthly rent. Of the tenants operating at the Manokan Country, only three were allowed to renew their business permits this year. The committee is composed of acting City Assessor Rommel De la Cruz, City Engineer Belly Aguillon and City Treasurer Giovanni Balalilhe. It further stated that the “highest and best” value of the property would be P21,200 per square meter. The city government has offered to relocate the tenants in a vacant lot behind the Bacolod Arts and Youth Sports Center. Puentevella previously said the proceeds of the sale will be utilized to improve the city’s health and security services, rehabilitation of relocation areas and traffic decongestion./PN BY MAE SINGUAY
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