Bacolod city: A technical working group (TWG) formed by Mayor Greg Gasataya is studying a private contractor's proposed amendments to the implementation of the city's Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino (4PH) Program housing project in Barangay Vista Alegre.

According to Philippines News Agency, the mayor's move came after the consortium of WRS Holdings, Inc., Scheirman Construction Consolidated, Inc., and RS Realty Concepts Developers, Inc. proposed reducing the project's deliverables from the original 25 buildings across three sites to eight, as stated in a letter to Gasataya dated April 8.

'We need to consider many factors. The TWG has begun the evaluation to prepare the necessary endorsement for the City Council, since this is a joint venture agreement,' the mayor said in a statement on Tuesday. The contractor noted that the current energy situation poses a challenge to large-scale developments in the country.

The TWG, chaired by Ma. Victoria Parrenas, head of the Bacolod Housing Authority, is tasked with validating and assessing the legal, technical, engineering, architectural, financial, and implementation-related aspects of the proposed amendment. The body will also review all relevant documents to properly guide the city in processing the proposal, including those that may be referred to the City Council and other concerned offices.

Gasataya said his office expects to receive a consolidated report from the TWG within 15 days, including findings, recommendations, and supporting documents needed for the city's action on the proposed amendment. Last year, the city government, under then-mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, now Bacolod City lone district representative, turned over the keys to the buyer-beneficiaries of the first two towers.

An initial 296 buyer-beneficiaries, approved through the Home Mutual Development Fund, have been identified to occupy the first four towers.