Negros Occidental Provincial Capitol 4.55

The Negros Occidental Provincial Capitol is the seat of the provincial government of Negros Occidental located at Gatuslao St., Bacolod, Philippines. Within its complex is the Capitol Park and Lagoon.HistoryBefore its present location, the provincial government of Negros Occidental was in the house donated by Jose Ruiz de Luzuriaga, who was part of the Philippine Commission established by the Americans in 1901, which was composed of three members.In 1926, then Governor Jose Locsin decided to erect a provincial capitol building that reflected the province's status as the wealthiest at that time due to the boost in the sugar industry. The Provincial Board looked onto his request and set aside a budget of Php 255,000. On 2 June 1927, the Bureau of Public Works, which had the mandate to approve all the construction of public infrastructures in the country, approved the proposal of the province and authorized the construction of the capitol.The site that was identified to be the best location for the capitol was owned by the Gonzaga family. Part of the area was a swamp and the grass was used to feed the horses pulling the calesas, which was the main mode of transportation in the towns and cities in the province.The Gonzaga heirs refused to sell their land and the province filed for expropriation against the family. The heirs, namely, Jose Gonzaga Torres, the Gonzaga children Gertrudes, Adela, Aurelia, Mamerta, Juan, Francisco and Vilardo, represented by lawyer and Bacolod Capitan Municipal Manuel Fernandez Yanson, did not adhere to the P1,200 per hectare expropriation price. As the province was not bent on increasing the price, the case was left to the hands of the court to decide. Eventually, the heirs gave in and the immediate construction of the capitol was directed by the Bureau of Public Works before the end of 1927.