BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental, Philippines – Sitting Mayor Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez is awaiting the legal opinion of City Hall’s chief lawyer, Romeo Carlos Ting, over his plan to spend P16 million of his personal money for the facelift of the ceremonial hall of the city mayor at the Bacolod City Government Center.
Benitez had earlier disclosed that to avoid speculations he is using public funds for his personal gain, he will pay for the renovation himself and realign the appropriated budget to the repair of public toilets, especially those at the public plaza.
City Administrator Pacifico Maghari III said employees of the Mayor’s Office are now temporarily usung the Masskara Hall as their workspace since the last two weeks.
He added they expect the renovation to be finished in three months.
The Mayor said this expansion is not for his own benefit but rather it is needed by the employees for efficiency and to have an office the the city could be proud of.
The P16 million budget was estimated by the City Engineer’s Office and was approved by the Sangguniang Panlungsod.
The budget however does not include that for the buying of furniture.
The renovation will include new building partitions and electrical repairs among others.
