Mayor, DBP chair lead ground-breaking for P350-M BCC development projects

BACOLOD CITY Mayor Evelio Leonardia and Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) chairman Alberto Romulo led the ground-breaking ceremony for the P350-million site development and improvement of facilities of the Bacolod City College (BCC).

The ceremony was held at the BCC main campus in Barangay Taculing on August 16, 2019.

The project is among the four flagship programs of the Leonardia administration, which are all funded by a P1.7-billion loan of the city government from the DBP.

The other three projects were the P350-million development of the Progreso Village Relocation Site, P800-million construction of the Bacolod MassKara Coliseum and the P200-million road and bridge construction program.

Joining Leonardia in the event were first lady Elsa Leonardia, Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, Councilors Cindy Rojas and Israel Salanga, BCC college administrator Dr. Ma. Johanna Ann Bayoneta, City Hall office and department heads, and DBP officials including SAVP Marissa Anino, VP Rosemarie Callanta, EVP Jose Gabino Dimayuga, and SM Bernardo Castillon Jr.

Leonardia, founder and chairman of the board of Bacolod City College, thanked DBP for funding the project through a loan.

He called Romulo the “godfather of BCC” for being instrumental in the realization of their dream to put up bigger and more conducive facilities for the BCC students.

Romulo is an adopted son of Bacolod and wedding godfather of Leonardia.

Leonardia also cited Councilor Israel Salanga as the first alumnus of BCC who became a councilor of Bacolod.

“If it is possible for him (Salanga) to become a city councilor, it is possible for everyone to achieve whatever they desire,” added Leonardia.

Familiaran, for his part, said, “This (BCC development) is a gift of the mayor to Bacolod, a gift to all of us… Imagine how progressive we can be if all city residents have a college degree.”

BCC is a city government -run school that was established in 1997, when Leonardia was on his first term as mayor. (PIO)