Tuesday, October 21, 2008 Many councilors favor moving City Hall to Mandurriao By Erwin Cabarles
MAJORITY of Iloilo City Council members are in favor of having the new City Hall at the old Iloilo airport site in Mandurriao district.
Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas said he learned of this following a conference with the City Council concerning the matter. Treñas added that only two to three councilors objected to the transfer.
However, Treñas said this doesn't mean it is already set that the new City Hall would be put up in Mandurriao, as the council will still have to finalize its decision.
According to Treñas, it is really up to the councilors to decide the best course of action for the city.
The City Council earlier revealed plans to sell the old City Hall property and buy a lot at Megaworld and construct a new building there.
A few councilors, however, are against the plan.
Councilor Irene Ong said the City Hall is considered the center of the city and it is proper that it should be located in the central district.
She stressed that if the City Hall building is removed from the city center, the businesses in the area, especially those in Calle Real or J.M. Basa Street, will surely close. The diversion of human traffic to Mandurriao, she said, will kill the small businesses in Calle Real.
On the other hand, Councilor Antonio Pisena, who is in favor of having the new City Hall in Mandurriao, said it is just proper to have the establishment built in a place nearer to residents of Molo, Arevalo, and Jaro districts.
He said the move would be a win-win solution for Megaworld and the city.
According to him, the lot being offered by the property development corporation at a size 4,596 square meters for P16,086,000 is reasonable. He said the lot is big enough to provide ample parking spaces unlike the building's old site in the Plaza Libertad area.
