Bacolod Museum will enhance economic recovery – mayor

By Dolly Yasa 

 

BACOLOD City – Mayor Evelio Leonardia said that the Bacolod Museum/Auditorium will enhance the economic recovery of the city amid COVID-19 because it will create demand for construction materials and create jobs for carpenters, welders, masons, painters, electricians, interior decorators, furniture makers, landscapers, gardeners, and many more.

Leonardia also said that the construction of the Bacolod museum/auditorium is historic and a dream come true for Bacolodnons

The mayor together with Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri, Bacolod Lone District Representative Greg Gasataya, Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran and representatives from the Yanson clan on Saturday led the groundbreaking of the P260-million Bacolod museum on a 8.8-hectare lot donated by the Yanson family

“I am so overwhelmed and excited that this is happening. To say that this is historic is, perhaps, an understatement, but definitely this is historic,” Leonardia said in a press statement.

He added “I am thankful to our ‘guardian angel’ benefactor and provider Senator Migz who is making this possible.”

Leonardia said Zubiri, who grew up in Bacolod, wanted the museum/auditorium to be “something iconic, something distinctive” that will reflect the unique taste and lifestyle of Bacolodnons.

“Bacolod deserves a museum – no doubt about it – because people here are sophisticated. A museum like this will show that Bacolodnons are really a special kind of people,” he added.

Zubiri on his part, said, “This is a dream come true for everybody. This is the start of a breakthrough to revitalize Bacolod City with leaders that are united together.”

The Bacolod Museum/Auditorium has long been dreamed of for its expected contribution to the education, cultural, and tourism goals of the city.

Zubiri said it will be a two-storey building costing P260 million.

It will be constructed on the 8.8-hectare property along the Circumferential Road that was donated to the city by the family of Ricardo and Olivia Yanson.

Leonardia further pointed out that the construction of this museum/auditorium is one of the conditions included in the contract of donation for the lot.

Representing the Yanson Family at the groundbreaking ceremony were Leo Rey Yanson, president and chief operating officer of Vallacar Transit, Inc. (VTI); Ginette Yanson-Dumancas – director of VTI, and Charles Dumancas. The Yanson Family owns VTI that operates Ceres buses, considered the biggest fleet in Southeast Asia.

The mayor said the dream of finally constructing a museum for Bacolod started when he told Zubiri in a meeting about two years ago that the city needed one as part of its cultural, historical, and educational facilities, not just for students, but also for all local residents and visitors to the city.

At the groundbreaking ceremony Saturday, after the initial P163-million funding, Zubiri promised that he will also look for the remaining P97 million to complete the project cost of P260 million, based on the design concept of consultants in Manila he had sought help from.

“This is so much more than what we have asked for. That just shows how much Senator Migz loves Bacolod. Now he is officially the Godfather of Bacolod City. He is the senator who can give us blessings from Malacañang,” the mayor described Zubiri.

“We will complete it mayor, that is a promise,” Zubiri said at the groundbreaking ceremony.

Gasataya thanked Zubiri for his leadership and for his assistance to Bacolod.

“This leader is a Bacolodnon and a Negrosanon. When we had crisis in the sugar industry, he was there to help us. No ifs and buts, he is always there to help us whenever we have problems.”

Gasataya shared that last September he referred to Zubiri’s office a bill approved by the House of Representatives to establish the Bacolod City General Hospital (BCGH). He said Zubiri then committed to help in getting the bill approved into law and funded by the national government.

“His outlook is not just on the cultural aspect and infrastructure but more so in the need of people in terms of health,” Gasataya added.

Leonardia said that while they were then excited about the project, they had nowhere to put it.

“We have to give credit to Ginnette Yanson-Dumancas and Leo Rey Yanson, who initiated the moves to make this lot donation a reality, after a simple social meeting with me and Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran,” the mayor added.

“This is a classic display of community teamwork. This is where we can see private and public partnership at its best,” the mayor said.

He thanked Olivia Yanson, the matriarch of the Yanson family, for her all-out support for the lot donation, and Zubiri for the funding.

Zubiri also said, “I want to thank, from the bottom of my heart, the Yanson Family because we were having problems on where to put this project. The land in Bacolod is too expensive and for them to donate 8 hectares to the people of Bacolod is a heroic act because this property is worth over a billion pesos.”

“It’s a legacy project of the Yanson family, too. What can we do with all our money? Even if we have money but did not give something for the people, we will die without leaving any legacy for everyone. This project is good for the 10th generation of Bacolodnons that will stay here,” Zubiri further said.

Zubiri and Leonardia also thanked Engr. Lea Delfinado, regional director of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), for her hard work and “for planning this project for a long time.”

Other officials gracing the groundbreaking ceremony were Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, Councilors Cindy Rojas and Bartolome Orola, City Administrator Em Ang, former councilor Roberto Rojas, special consultant on tourism, trade, and investment Atty. John Orola, Acting City Engineer Aladino Agbones, Project Engineer Loben Rafael Ceballos, City Legal Officer Atty. Joselito Bayatan, Acting City Tourism Officer Sandra Ruth Sycip, OIC- City Health Officer Dr. Edwin Miraflor,  Executive Assistant George Zulueta, Bacolod City Police Office director Col. Manuel Placido, and Bacolod Traffic Authority Office head Col. Luisito Acebuche.

Joining them were Architect Leonilo Ramon Lichauco of EM Cuerpo, Jojo Ang of IBC Construction, DPWH-Construction Division chief Engr. Elsie Sabay, DPWH-Bacolod assistant district engineer Leah Jamero, former board member Atty. Emilio Yulo III, and Vallacar Transit executives.

Also gracing the event were Barangay Alijis officials, namely, Punong Barangay Deogracias Dela Vega, Kagawads Ebony Dela Vega, Bobby Ignalaga, Happy Calinao, Wilfredo Buyco, and Faustino Dutenio, and SK chair Reymar Berja. (With a report from CITY IO)