GINGOOG City, Misamis Oriental — Gingoog City is moving closer to providing a permanent site for a Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) training center after the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) committee approved the proposed allocation of 2,000 square meters of city-owned land in Civoleg, Barangay Lunotan.

The proposal was taken up on first reading during the City Council’s regular session on Sept. 21 and referred to the appropriate committee. A committee meeting and public hearing followed on Sept. 22 at the SP Session Hall.

Mayor Erick G. Cañosa had asked the SP to authorize him to enter into a Deed of Donation with BIR Revenue District Office No. 97, covering a portion of the city-owned property for the proposed training center.

The request was contained in a Sept. 2 letter to the City Council.

BIR Revenue District Officer Lawrence T. Cabeltes thanked Cañosa and the city government for responding to the agency’s request.

Cabeltes also expressed appreciation to the committee, chaired by Councilor Stephanie Marie L. Kho, for the processing of the proposed land allocation.

He said the project would provide BIR District 97 with a permanent venue for seminars, workshops, skills upgrading and other training activities for its personnel.

Kho confirmed the committee’s approval in a text message.

The committee also approved proposed land allocations for two other national government agencies: 25,000 square meters for the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for its planned facility, including the proposed NBI Academy for Mindanao, and 10,000 square meters for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for its proposed office and nursery.

The proposed allocations form part of the city government’s plan to develop its 76-hectare Civoleg property into a government center where national agencies can establish facilities.

The Department of Education (DepEd) Gingoog has already established a three-storey administrative office in the area, which is expected to be occupied in October.

Councilor Winfred Militante Jr., president of the Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) and a committee member, said the development could help bring more national government offices closer to residents.

Militante said recipient agencies would have three years to develop and utilize their respective land allocations.

Properties that remain undeveloped or unused within the prescribed period may revert to the city government, subject to the conditions of the Deed of Donation and applicable laws, he said.

The committee’s recommendations will be brought back to the plenary during the City Council’s regular session on Sept. 28 for second reading.

The proposed allocations remain subject to further discussion and possible objections before the City Council takes the next legislative action.