BACOLOD City Mayor Evelio Leonardia said on Tuesday, January 29, he is thankful to the Yanson family for donating 8.8-hectare land to be used for the South Public Terminal, museum, and coliseum of the city.
"I would like to express our heartfelt thanks to the Yanson family for their generosity and patriotism," Leonardia said.
Leonardia already signed the two deeds of donation and submitted it to the City Council on Tuesday for the ratification in the regular session on Wednesday, January 30.
The City Council earlier granted Leonardia the authority to sign the deed of donation of the 8.8-hectare land to be used for the South Public Terminal, museum, and coliseum of the city with the Yanson Reality Development Corporation (YRDC) and Vallacar Transit, Inc.
They unanimously approved a resolution authorizing the mayor to sign the proposed contract of donation between the city government and Vallacar Inc. for the donation to be used for the Bacolod Public Terminal.
They also approved a separate resolution authorizing the mayor to sign the proposed contract of donation between the city and the YRDC, Vallacar Transit, Inc. for the donation of several parcels of land to be used for the Bacolod MassKara coliseum and Bacolod museum.
He said that getting a donation of 8.8 hectares is beyond his expectation.
He noted that 13 years ago, many people were astonished when the Gonzaga family donated the 5-hectare property for the construction of Bacolod Government Center.
Leonardia recalled that in the previous years, he also talked with the late Ricardo Yanson for the possibility of putting up a new growth center in the south.
He said the donation of the Yanson family is an advantage to the city government, the best deal for Bacolod City.
Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran also said the construction of these projects in the said areas will bring economic growth as well as it will decongest Lopez Jaena Street.
He said the property, with the total cost of P440 million, will house the south terminal, museum which will be financed by Senator Miguel Zubiri, and the coliseum.
He added the terminal will cater all southbound buses except the eastbound going to Murcia and Don Salvador. (MAP)