BACOLOD CITY — The City of Bacolod has started the bidding process for the implementation of the three of its four flagship projects to be funded by a PHP1.7-billion loan from the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP).
City Assessor Maphilindo Polvora, chairman of the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), said as of Thursday, several prospective bidders have already purchased bidding documents.
The three projects include the PHP350-million development of Progreso Village Relocation Site, PHP350-million Bacolod City College Site Development and Facilities, and PHP200-million construction of roads and bridges.
The BAC has conducted a pre-procurement conference and advertised the invitation to bid in a newspaper and posted it on the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) portal and the DBP website, Polvora said.
He added that the DBP will release the loan amount once the winning bidders have been declared.
“The bid should be responsive and calculated in accordance with the plan of the end-user,” Polvora said.
The fourth project is the PHP800-million construction of Bacolod MassKara Coliseum with outdoor arena.
Last December, the City Council ratified the term loan agreement and continuing deed of assignment with hold-out agreement between the City of Bacolod and the DBP represented by Negros Occidental Lending Center head Bernardo Castillon.
Mayor Evelio Leonardia earlier said the four projects are “meant really to improve our day-to-day life in Bacolod and these will have a long-term effect on the City of Bacolod”.
“The maximum loan we can avail of is PHP1.7 billion. For sure, it will not be PHP1.7 billion in the end,” the mayor added.
Leonardia said the Bacolod MassKara Coliseum will be positioned as an income-generating project since commercial spaces will be available within the building.
The mayor’s challenger in his reelection bid, former councilor Jocelle Batapa-Sigue, has filed a petition for temporary restraining order against the PHP1.7-billion loan before the Regional Trial Court Branch 44. (PNA)
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