BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental, Philippines – The construction of the P800 million Bacolod Masskara Coliseum and Museum will push through despite delays caused by the pandemic, said Mayor Evelio Leonardia.
In a press conference, the mayor said he has already directed the City Engineers Office to prepare in 2021 all the held off construction projects this year.
Leonardia said the city government has a contractual obligation to the contractors of the project and to Yanson family who donated 8.8 hectares of land to build the coliseum and museum.
“If we abandon that, that is a crime against future generations, that is why we should pursue that at all cost,” he said.
The coliseum is among Leonardia’s four flagship projects being funded by the P1.7 billion loan of the city government to the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP).
The mayor said the budget for the coliseum has already been allocated with the loan from the DBP, and it can be used only for that particular purpose.
He also addressed the issue of realigning funds to build city-owned hospital rather than coliseum, saying that the hospital shall be sponsored by the national government.
“Among the campaign promises of Grupo Progreso is the Bacolod City hospital built by the national government. This has already been taken shape and approved by Congress,” Leonardia said.