MABALACAT City mayoral aspirant Diosdado "Deng" Pangilinan said recently that amid the raging coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic, the city needs a hospital and not a new city hall reportedly planned to be constructed by the current administration of Mayor Crisostomo Garbo allegedly through a P600-million loan for land acquisition and another P600 million for its construction.
Pangilinan claimed “it would be a waste of money” since the current City Hall at Xevera Mabalacat is functional and the old municipal building can also be renovated while the Mabalacat Annex Building inside Clark Freeport is well maintained.
“Sabi nila balak nila utangin ay P1.2-billion, P600-million para sa lupa at P600-million para sa construction ng bagong city hall (They said they plan to borrow P1.2 billion—P600 million for the land and P600 million for the construction of a new city hall),” said Pangilinan.
“There is no need for a new Mabalacat City Hall. And there is no need to get a P1.2 billion loan just to realize the new city hall. Ngayong panahon ng pandemya ang gusto ng tao hospital hindi city hall (In this time of pandemic, people want hospitals, not city halls).”
Pangilinan said he will oppose the move to have a new Mabalacat City Hall when the proper time and venue come.
“What we need is a modern medical facility amid the continuing threat of Covid-19,” said Pangilinan. (PR)