Gov't Center in Palo to host more regional offices

TACLOBAN CITY, June 28 -– Regional government offices in Eastern Visayas will eventually find their homes at the Government Center in Palo, Leyte once their usufruct agreement with the provincial government of Leyte gets officially signed. 

Among those which have recently sought the permission of the provincial government to locate at the state-owned Government Center are the offices of the National Police Commission (Napolcom), Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Philippine Affairs Office (PVAO), and the Veterans Federation of the Philippines (VFP), Leyte Vice Governor Carlo Loreto said in an interview on Wednesday.

FDA is seeking for a 2,000 square meter lot, Napolcom for 2,014 square meters, DSWD for 4,000 square meters, PVAO for 500 square meters and VFP for 1,163 square meters, based on the documents provided by Loreto. 

The lots being requested for usufruct is located near the Department of Education Leyte Division Office and the Radyo ng Bayan building.

Vice Governor Loreto said the provincial board had already approved a request from the office of the governor to enter into usufruct with some of these offices, while others were still pending for site inspection and comments by the provincial legal office.

For one, the DSWD has asked assistance to improve the access road to the proposed site. 

The site is where they will build their regional warehouse and puts heavy consideration that big delivery trucks will be utilizing the access road once the warehouse will be in full operation. 

The DSWD likewise noted the presence of informal settlers and requested the provincial government to help in informing them to vacate the area.

Meanwhile, for the Napolcom, it has chosen to settle at a lot in between the present DepEd-Leyte provincial office and a lot allotted for the Bureau of Treasury instead of a previous site initially allowed for them.

It was learned that the term of the usufruct, once signed, will be for 25 years and renewable for another 25 years subject to the arrangement of both parties.

The regional office or office can take possession of the property within one year from the signing of the usufruct and should undertake construction within two years from the execution of the contract. The usufruct further states that ownership of the building and all other alterations, improvements or additions on the property will remain with the provincial government at the end of the term or its renewal.

Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla, for his part, said, entering into contract of usufruct with regional government agencies and other offices was part of a grand plan of the province to develop and fully utilize the government center property.

“Aside from government offices, there are areas allotted for sports development, business, tourism and recreation. The whole government center will be one big complete hub,” said Petilla.

The government center already hosts several government offices such as the Bureau of Internal Revenue, Civil Service Commission, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Health, Population Commission, Commission on Audit, Department of Education, Philippine Coconut Authority, National Economic and Development Authority, Department of Public Works and Highways, DENR’s Mines and Geosciences Bureau and CENRO-Leyte and Palo Office and the Bureau of Lands. 

It is home to the historic Mac Arthur Landing Memorial and the iconic Oriental Hotel. It also hosts the Philippine Science High School–Eastern Visayas and the Leyte Academic Center with the Leyte ICT Park and the LAC Gymnasium within. The growing Leyte Provincial Hospital and other offices of the provincial government is also located within the government center. (Ahlette C. Reyes/PNA)