BACOLOD City – To mark the commencement of the rehabilitation of the 58-year-old Bacolod city hall on Luzuriaga-Araneta Streets, Barangay 13 here, the project’s groundbreaking ceremony was held yesterday, August 6.
Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez led the groundbreaking and capsule-laying rites for the P223-million redevelopment project.
The fund was sourced out from the P4.4-billion loan of the city government with the Development Bank of the Philippines last year.
With the rehabilitation of the old city hall, Mayor Benitez emphasized that “there are modern technologies right now that are aptly viable for us to be able to preserve this location that has a historical significance.”
“And so we decided, together with the City Engineer’s Office (CEO), to come up with a concept that will embrace Bacolod history and as well as use modern technology to create a modern facility that will be a pride of Bacolod,” the city mayor added.
Also part of the redevelopment plan is to have a huge art piece in the old city hall building.
“We also want to make this as a cultural place where we enhance the artistic significance of the city,” he said.
Moreover, Mayor Benitez asked the City Council to come up and engage a group of local artists to create the iconic art piece.
“This will be a work of art that we will all be proud of. And let us ensure that we highlight our local talents and showcase this to the rest of the world,” the mayor added.
Mayor Benitez again assured the public that despite the redevelopment project, the Fountain of Justice, located directly in front of the old city hall, will be preserved and will remain in its position.
Earlier, the city government said the new four-story structure is estimated to be finished by next year.
The modern and bigger building, which will have a 55-space parking lot, will house the offices of the City Disaster Risk Reduction Office, City Veterinary Office, General Services Office, Persons with Disability Office, Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs, Commission on Audit and Department of the Interior and Local Government./PN
