Gov. Erico Aumentado has left it all to the Department of Education and Commission on Audit to decide on the request for an extension of occupancy by over 40 families at the at least 1.1-hectare site of the new Capitol in Cogon District, Tagbilaran City. Aumentado explained during his weekly radio program, Governor's Report, Friday last week that he had already signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with DepEd and COA for the entry and development of the area. The over 40 dwellers appeared before the regular session of the Provincial Board (PB) Tuesday last week to request the local legislators to grant an extension of one more year on their stay at the future Capitol site in Purok 6, Cogon District. During the session, Vice-Governor Julius Caesar Herrera, who presided the PB session, assured the dwellers that he will bring their woes to the governor.

In its earlier sessions, the PB had passed a resolution authorizing the governor to sign the MOA with DepEd and COA. The edifices of DepEd and COA that will be constructed at the new Capitol site got a funding of more than P4 million. What further blurs the dwellers' hope is the fact that Provincial Schools Division Superintendent Elpedio Jala has already signed the notice to proceed for the contractor to start works on construction of the DepEd building at the site. According to Jala, the contractor had even asked for the 15-percent mobilization fund. Jala, however, waits for the dwellers to vacate the area before he hands over the fund to the contractor.