By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD CITY – The city government will build an “iconic and modern” Bacolod City Hall at a historic downtown site.
City officials, led by Mayor Alfredo “Albee” Benitez, broke ground yesterday on the P223-million, four-story building at Luzuriaga-Araneta Streets in Barangay 13.
Benitez said the Old City Hall, built 58 years ago, will be renovated as a legacy project of the current administration.
“We decided, together with our engineers, to embrace Bacolod’s history and use modern technology to create a facility we can be proud of,” Benitez said during the groundbreaking ceremony.
Benitez emphasized that modern technology is crucial to preserving the historically significant location.
“We aim to create a legacy project that will be appreciated for years to come. We are looking at what represents Bacolod,” he added.
The new building will feature a 10-meter-high art piece, about three to four meters wide. Benitez has asked the City Council to engage local artists to create this iconic artwork, which will be visible from the second to fourth floors.
“This will be a work of art that we will be proud of,” Benitez said, noting that it will showcase local talent and creativity to the world.
The new city hall will also serve as a cultural venue, enhancing Bacolod’s artistic significance.
Benitez said the second floor will accommodate the offices of the local chief executive and legislative positions, with the intention of eventually dividing the city into two districts.
“The idea is to plan and anticipate possible redistricting,” he added.
Despite structural changes, Benitez stressed that the city would preserve the Fountain of Justice, only covering it without altering the landmark.
The new building will also feature a driveway and underground parking, and the mayor will have an office there.
“At the end of the day, no matter what happens, the seat of Bacolod and the official address of the city will still be here in this landmark area,” he said.
The renovation project is expected to be completed within 18 months.
The P223-million initial allocation for the Old City Hall renovation is part of the priority initiatives funded by a P4.4 billion loan from the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP).
Benitez mentioned that changes in the project scope have led to a funding shortfall of about P80 to P100 million.
The original design by the City Engineering Office (CEO) did not include the second, third, and fourth floors above the fountain, necessitating an extension.
He said he has asked the DBP about the process for realigning some projects, which may not push through due to certain reasons.
The city is contemplating using the P525 million initially intended for the rehabilitation of the Burgos Public Market to complete the city hall project.
However, the CEO has yet to finalize the actual amount needed for the renovation as they are still assessing the changes in the project.
The city government revealed the design perspective of the new city hall on its Facebook page yesterday.
