BACOLOD City – The municipality of EB Magalona, Negros Occidental will hold a bidding for the purchase of P50-million worth of heavy equipment this month, while the bidding for the P10-million computerization, that for the P140-million rehabilitation of the town’s public market will be done next month.
Mayor Marvin Malacon said the bidding could now be held following the release of the P200-million loan from Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP).
The loan was actually approved last year yet but EB Magalona vice mayor Robert Acaling had written a letter questioning the loan from LBP, making the bank hesitant to release the funds, said Malacon.
According to the mayor, Acaling eventually wrote a new letter to the bank stating he was no longer questioning the loan because it hds complied with all the requirements and underwent proper procedure.
Malacon said the heavy equipment to be acquired – such as a bulldozer, excavator, grader, backhoe and dump truck – will be used for various infrastructure projects, especially in the town’s hinterlands.
Residents have been complaining about roads becoming impassable during the rainy season.
On the other hand, the construction and renovation of the public market will be done phase-by-phase. It is targeted to be completed within one year, Malacon said.
“We need to renovate the building because it is already old. Some of the businessmen and vendors were also requesting for its improvement,” he added.
The existing market building is a 70-year-old structure already dilapidating./PN
