The provincial government of Negros Oriental is currently looking at striking a partnership with the private sector for the completion of the Negros Oriental Hotel & Restaurant.
Gov. Roel Degamo, in a press conference after his First 100 Days speech at the Capitol, said he has earmarked P3 million for the ongoing hotel construction. But the hotel will need around P50 million more to complete its construction.
The Governor said he is open to private entities who might be interested to pour in funds for the hotel’s completion, as well as oversee the management of the Negros Oriental Convention Center. “I don’t want these buildings to end up being a white elephant,” said Degamo.
The Governor said he plans to form an Economic Enterprise Office that will look into how the provincial government will manage its income-generating facilities.
The four-floor, 45-room Negros Oriental Hotel & Restaurant was started in 2006 under the administration of then governor and now 2nd District Cong. George P. Arnaiz.
Capitol Information Officer Adrian Sedillo said that by the time former Gov. Emilio C. Macias stepped in after the Arnaiz administration, the total amount needed for the completion of the hotel was pegged at P100 million. About P58 million of the amount was infused during the administration of Macias.
Over the years, the hotel’s construction work thrived on sporadic funding allotment from the provincial government, even as the latter continues to pay the loan it earlier availed from the Development Bank of the Philippines to start said construction.
The provincial government in 2004 entered into a loan agreement with DBP for P150 million which bankrolled the construction of the now-completed Negros Oriental Convention Center worth P120 million; the rest of the money kicked off the construction of the hotel and restaurant. (RMN/PIA-7)