BACOLOD City – It did not authorize the construction of the P4-million animal hub project at the Panaad Park and Stadium in Barangay Mansilingan, the provincial government told this capital city’s Office of the Building Official (OBO).
Provincial Administrator Lucille Gelvolea sent OBO a letter explaining that it is not to be blamed for the construction of the “illegal” project.
The letter was in response to the notice of violation that the OBO issued to Negros Occidental governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. on April 25 after it found that the project violated the National Building Code.
The animal hub does not have a building permit, the OBO said.
Any person, corporation or government agency must first secure a building permit before constructing, altering, repairing, converting, using, occupying, moving, demolishing,or adding any structure, said OBO head Isidro Sun, citing Section 301 of the National Building Code.
In the letter, Gelvolea stated that the animal hub project does not have a contract and no notice to proceed from the provincial government.
“Upon discovery of such unauthorized construction, the province cancelled the pre-bid, bidding and other procurement activities intended for the proposed project,” Gelvolea added.
She also stressed that the provincial government issued the project a stoppage order on March 22.
As to who was behind the construction, Gelvolea said they have yet to know as the team tasked to look into the matter is still investigating.
The animal hub project, which is now 80 percent complete, includes an auction area, animal pens, a training center, a laboratory for research and development, and a demonstration room./PN
