Mayor Belen: Demolition of old city hall not an option
CONTRACTOR CAN’T SHOW CONSTRUCTION PLANS
“SAKIT ng ulo yan!”
This was the curt reply of Mayor Belen Fernandez when asked for her assessment of the continuing construction of a new city hall, in front of the old one in Barangay 1 in Dagupan City that was started by his predecessor.
Apparently exasperated by failure of the contractor to show a copy of the construction plan, she fears many problems will arise, from flooding to lack of facilities and spaces and said the situation will require her to consult with the people of Dagupan.
She conceded she cannot stop the construction without breaching the contract entered into for the city by her predecessor, Brian Lim.
She said she doubts if then Mayor Lim consulted the people because the groundbreaking of the project was held just three days before the election and no public hearing or consultation was scheduled.
Vice Mayor Bryan Kua also expressed his doubts but if due diligence and process was conducted, but he will not act against it if it is proven the legal process was observed.
Both Fernandez and Kua said while they were never shown a copy to the construction plan for the building, the contractor continues drive piling in the area, indicating simply that it may be a three-storey building.
The mayor said even the contractor say how the old city hall will be affected by the construction but the elevation of two meters is ongoing.
With that elevation, Fernandez surmised the ground floor of the two-storey old city hall that has a historical value to the people, will be demolished.
She said any plan to demolish the old city hall, a heritage site in the city built during the pre-war in 1925, will never be acceptable to the Dagupeños.
“That is not an option for the people,” the mayor intoned.
She also noted that with no backfilling between the buildings and spaces, the planned city hall complex will be constantly flooded during high tide and when rains fall.
In her previous term, Fernandez proposed a new city hall that will accommodate not only offices of the Dagupan City government but all national government agencies based in the city. (Leonardo Micua)
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