PGMA, Pacquiao to be invited on NGC inauguration
BACOLOD CITY – President Arroyo and boxing champ Manny Pacquiao would be invited as special guests in the inauguration of the New Government Center (NGC) to be held before the end of the year.
This was learned from the organizers of the affair who are now busy preparing the activities.
President Arroyo last May 14 visited the NGC not for its inauguration but to grace the affair of the Regional Development Council.
Antique Governor Salvacion Perez, chair of RDC, said President Arroyo described the NGC to be the “anchor of development” of Bacolod City.
Perez recalled that during Arroyo’s visit to Bacolod for the awarding of the winners of the Best Public Practices in Western Visayas, the President commented that the government center looks like Malacañang.
“The President also said this building is going to be the anchor of development or structure because, according to her, so many establishments will be built around the area,” Perez added.
She said the President believes that many restaurants and offices will be established around the NGC.
Perez said she was very happy to hear that, and maybe that is one of the reasons why the President accepted their invitation when, in the past, she only sent members of her Cabinet like Mike Defensor and Cerge Remonde.
“The impact of the government center is far-ranging, and the President saw it in its proper perspective, and that further validated the city’s project,” Mayor Leonardia said.
Leonardia said that when they built the government center, they were motivated by excellence in governance because it is going to provide better working conditions for the city’s employees, and will be more convenient and spacious, especially for their constituents.
This is going to inspire investors’ confidence, he said, adding that the physical structure of the government center is another aspect that has become a tourist attraction for the city.
He noted that there are tourists who have been seen coming to the government center to take pictures of the building and be photographed near it.
Leonardia said they are thankful for the coming of the President and for her presence, which is a source of inspiration.
“This could be interpreted to mean that she does not believe the accusations and attempts to discredit the government center,” he added.
He also emphasized that the government center has already passed two audits conducted by the Commission on Audit.
“What is important is that the city has complied with all the requirements of the COA,” he said. The President was also given copies of the two COA findings on the construction of the government center.
If there are still speculations against the government center, those are just opinions and sour-graping of our political detractors, Leonardia said.