BACOLOD City – Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri promised Bacolodnons that a multipurpose museum will be built in this city.
He was lobbying with the Department of Budget and Management for the inclusion of P163 million for the project in the 2019 budget, Zubiri told reporters in a news conference at L’Fisher Hotel on Sunday.
It will not be an ordinary museum. It will also have an amphitheater and an auditorium, the senator said as he presented the planned building’s architectural design and perspective.
Once built, the museum will be an “iconic and historic structure” and will become “one of the tourist attractions in Bacolod City,” said Zubiri.
Asked why he is pushing for this project in this city, the senator said: “We want to give back to Bacolod and Negros. Our roots are here.”
His father, Jose Ma. Zubiri Jr., is a native of Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental.
Senator Zubiri wanted the budget for the museum released in full instead of in tranches. He said he is lobbying with the DBM for this kind of disbursement as well.
Once the budget is approved, construction can start in the first quarter of 2019 and be completed in “more or less two years,” he said.
All the local government has to do, Zubiri said, is to provide a 5,000-square-meter location.
Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran told reporters at the same news conference that a location is already available but Mayor Evelio Leonardia will have to announce it himself.
Leonardia was not around at the time. Zubiri said the mayor went to Manila.
Also present at the news conference were councilors Em Ang Caesar Distrito and Bart Orola./PN
