BY MATÉ ESPINA
IT PAYS to have an ally. Iloilo has Sen. Franklin Drilon, Negros has Sen. Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri who vowed to help Bacolod catch-up with the “luster” of Iloilo.
Indeed, we have long been envious of the development that’s been happening in Iloilo and just perhaps, the promised cultural and heritage center and our very own Bacolod City hospital may become the turning point.
Zubiri was in town over the weekend for the groundbreaking of the P260 million museum and auditorium that is expected for completion by early 2022.
“This historical building will put Bacolod City and Negros Occidental on the map of the cultural world in the Philippines,” the senator said.
Knowing that prioritizing such projects amidst the pandemic may bring a backlash, Zubiri explained that the project was approved and signed a couple of years ago when COVID-19 was unheard of but promised to co-sponsor a bill in the Senate for the establishment of a city hospital in Bacolod.
A similar bill has already been approved in the lower house through Bacolod Rep. Greg Gasataya and the senator said he will make sure the same will be included for funding in the 2022 general budget of about P300-P400 million.
Zubiri also thanked the Yanson Family, especially the matriarch Olivia Yanson and children Leo Rey and Ginnette for donating the 8.8 hectares lot to Bacolod City where the museum, the coliseum and the People’s Park will be developed in what will be called the Ricardo Yanson Sr. Sports and Cultural Complex, in honor of the late founder of Vallacar Transit, the biggest bus operator in the country.
The senator said it was a “heroic act” for the Yansons to offer a property that in today’s land value would be around P880 million. Located at the circumferential road going south, Zubiri said this development will create a “new growth area” for the city.
I supposed the donated lot is not included in the squabble for ownership of various businesses and assets by the Yanson siblings since the construction was given a go-ahead by the DPWH which awarded the project to Iloilo contractor, Jojo Ang.
The museum was designed by Arch. Pamby Lichauco that incorporated environment-friendly considerations and based on the perspective, it will surely become one of Bacolod’s attraction.
Mayor Bing Leonardia said the Yanson complex will also house the coliseum that can seat thousands and with the auditorium within the museum, this will hopefully bring in big conventions to the city. He also thanked the senator for promising to help in the hospital project.
“This is a classic display of community teamwork. This is where we can see private and public partnership at its best,” Mayor Bing said. The museum will also display MassKara winning masks through the years as the festival has become part of Bacolod’s cultural history.
The mayor called the senator our city’s “guardian angel” for making all of these possible and promised that the “iconic” structure will reflect the unique taste and lifestyle of Bacolodnons.
DPWH Regional Director Lea Delfinado said that they have given the contractors a “notice to proceed” and a two month timeline to submit engineering requirements. Hopefully, by February or March, construction can start and expected to be completed within 385 days.
This, said Mayor Bing, will create jobs as well and will help in the city’s economic recovery as the project will require the services of interior decorators, landscapers, furniture makers, etc.
For the hospital project, Bacolod must ensure they have a site as their counterpart and of course, the funds to operate it eventually.
On the side, Zubiri said that he is more careful today because his IgG or anti-bodies against COVID-19 has diminished. There are theories that those who were infected with the virus may be able to contract it again.
Zubiri was among the first COVID positive in the country and in the DOH statistics is patient No. 142. He tested positive twice but he believed that his second test during the State of the Nation Address earlier this year, showed remnants of his previous infection as he had no symptoms the second time around.
He has been monitoring his IgG levels and it has been going down thus is extra careful in going around and reminded the public that using face masks definitely helps as what happened in the Senate when Sen. Bato de la Rosa tested positive yet none of the people in the halls who were all wearing face masks got infected and only those in Bato’s staff and household were.
“Let’s not let this virus beat us, we will beat this virus we just need to think smart and stay alive because the vaccines are coming,” Zubiri said./PN
