By JONAS REYES | Iba, Zambales

THE provincial government has firmed up arrangements for the construction of a P1.2-billion capitol building inside a lot owned by the family of former Governor Vicente Magsaysay in Barangay Santo Rosario, this town.

In an interview on September 10, Governor Amor Deloso revealed that the provincial government has already entered into a contract with Alloy MTD Philippines, Inc., a leading infrastructure conglomerate in Asia, for the implementation of the project.

He also said that he has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the construction of the capitol building with a proposed budget of P1.2 billion with Luisito Ucab, project development officer of the Alloy MTD (Phils.) Holding Co., Inc.

Other signatories were Zambales 2nd District Representative Cheryl Deloso-Montalla, Vice-Gov. Angel Magsaysay, and former Gov. Vic Magsaysay.

The transfer of the capitol to a new location was first announced by Deloso in his State of the Province Address (SOPA) last July.

In his speech, Deloso lauded ex-governor Magsaysay for donating his family’s three-hectare family land in Santo Rosario, noting that this will be established as a Government Center where provincial government buildings, including the capitol, and all other government offices will be transferred.

Deloso said the construction of the new Zambales capitol building will be made through private-public partnership (PPP), and hence, the provincial government will not spend a single centavo for the project.