It wasn’t a secret that workers were working full blast to construct a privately-owned restaurant inside the Perdices Sports Complex in Dumaguete City, but close to opening day and P2.1 million later, it was learned that the construction was illegal.
The Visionaire Lounge, said to be owned by a Leizl Mae Mamhot de Guia, was about to start its operations when Provincial Board Members learned about it, and started asking questions.
Board Member Jessica Villanueva told the MetroPost they were surprised by the construction of the restaurant when there were no papers to support its operation.
Aside from the absence of a public bidding, the Provincial Board has still not passed a law fixing the rental of facilities owned by the Province.
De Guia appeared before the Provincial Board last Monday to say she was renting the facility for P30,000 a month.
Board Member Villanueva said that de Guia told them she was authorized by a certain Julius Zerna, an executive assistant of the Provincial Governor assigned to manage the hotel at the Negros Oriental Convention Center.
Provincial Administrator Arnel Francisco had promised to bring Zerna to the Provincial Board session last Monday to explain his deal with de Guia, but only Francisco appeared before the legislators to say that Zerna had resigned effective Dec. 1st.
De Guia told the Board Members that she had spent her savings of P2.1 million from her previous employment in Switzerland to construct the restaurant, and she had even started paying the salaries and wages of her employees.
Vice Gov. Mark Macias said De Guia may file a case against Zerna so she could recover her expenses.
