BACOLOD City – After a year and six months of envisioning a legislative building for the city, Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez led its groundbreaking ceremony yesterday, Dec. 4.
The P515 million, four-story legislative building is being constructed at the back of the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC).
Engineer Loben Ceballos, officer-in-charge of the City Engineer’s Office, said the project has 18 months before completion. It is expected to finish before the 2025 midterm elections.
“We will try to make sure that before the 2025 election… to be able to serve the city better. Hopefully, we will have better-serving councilors because they will have a beautiful office,” Benitez said.
Benitez signed the contract with Manila-based Legacy Construction Corporation/M.K.U. Construction and Supply for the project after the SP’s authorization on Nov. 15.
Meanwhile, Ceballos said the structure employs a green design with solar panels and a rainwater collection system, among others.
The column design on the facade of the building signifies the number of city officials, including the mayor, vice mayor, and members of the city council, he added.
There will also be a helipad on the rooftop.
A separate legislative building was proposed as the BCGC is growing crowded, according to Councilor Al Victor Espino.
Its construction fund was sourced from the P4.4 billion loan of the city to the Development Bank of the Philippines./PN
