THE historic town of Bacolor registered another first as it inaugurated its P10-million legislative building, a first-of-its-kind in the 3rd District and the province of Pampanga.
Bacolor officials led by incumbent Vice Mayor and mayor-elect Diman Datu had no one to thank for but 3rd District Representative Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales Jr., who helped with the project since day one.
The two-story facility will house the individual offices of the municipal councilors and a session hall for council sessions and meetings.
The building will also house the whole legislative staff of the Office of the Secretary to the Sangguniang Bayan.
The building is one of the few legislative buildings in the province that is separate from the old municipal hall. In the past, the municipal hall served as the home of the executive and legislative branches of the municipal government.
Datu said the new building will greatly facilitate the functions of the legislative department here. He added that with offices in place, the people can easily be accommodated and consulted for legislative matters. He added that Gonzales had been instrumental in improving the many infrastructures of this town and the municipal government through his years in public service.
“Bacolor owes so much to its adopted son, much of the improvements that we have now, all the rehabilitation works and the development of the state university here could all be credited to Congressman Gonzales,” Datu said.
Gonzales, who was named as an adopted son by the town council in 2003, pledged his continuing support for the town. He added that the legislative buildings aims to position the town as ready for its eventual full development after it had bounced back from the effects of the Pinatubo eruption almost three decades ago.
“Bacolor is really close to my heart since the start. My dream is to see this town become a bustling hub of development and commerce in the coming years,” Gonzales said, adding that he hopes to see the town council up to the task of drafting laws that would usher in a new age of development for the town.
“This legislative building is for the people. The ordinances and resolutions that would be crafted here should and must reflect the needs of the people of Bacolor,” Gonzales added.
The representative-elect, known for landmark legislations like Republic Act 9505, otherwise known as Dong’s Law, which provided for the continued and comprehensive rehabilitation of the town of Bacolor from the devastation it suffered as a result of the Mt. Pinatubo eruption in 1991, and RA 9832, or the conversion of the Don Honorio Ventura School of Arts and Trade into the Don Honorio Ventura Technological State University and later Don Honorio Ventura State University, said that there is now a new chapter in Pampanga’s politics, adding that he will continuously work alongside allies.