New City Hall likely to remain in its present site
City Mayor Jerry Treñas said most of the officials and department heads of the city government prefer to have the proposed P320 million City Hall constructed in its present site in Plaza Libertad rather than in Brgy. San Pedro, Molo district.
Treñas said this was the sentiment of most of the officials after Architect William Coscolluela presented the project plan last Thursday. Out of the 25 officials, 22 agreed to develop the old city hall building and only three wants to continue the plans of the previous administration to construct the new city hall building at the city government's 5-hectare lot in Brgy. San Pedro, Molo.
To note, some 50 million pesos donated by Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago was already spent for the installation of concrete piles in the San Pedro site during the time of former Mayor Mansueto Malabor.
Treñas said the present site of the City Hall is more accessible to all employees of the city government compared to that in Brgy. San Pedro.
Based on the space assessment structure of the designer, the city needs at least P320 million for the entire building. The estimated budget is P20,000 to P22,000 per square meter. The city needs about 16,000 to 17,000 square meter to accommodate all the offices under the city government, said Treñas.
The same project plan suggests a high-rise building equipped with computerization system. Other than the cost of the building, the city also needs to hire a space planner in order to maximize the use of the area, said Treñas.
Once the city council approves the project plan and works, the city will set a time-line when to vacate the old city hall building to pave way for the construction of new City Hall.
At present, the executive branch and several offices occupy the 2,100 square meters dilapidated building in Plaza Libertad while the legislative branch occupies the second floor of the Iloilo Terminal Market.
Previously, the legislative branch rented the second floor of the new Mary Mart Mall. It cost the city government millions of pesos in rentals. Later, the councilors and several offices moved to the Iloilo Terminal Market.
The proposed construction of the new city hall building was made during the term of Malabor. To start the project, Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago donated P50 million for the construction. Until, this date no building was constructed.
In one of the senator's campaign sortie here, the senator hinted the money intended for the construction of the city hall building was stolen. She however did not identify the culprits.