(Bataan officials join Duterte in fistbump. Photo by Ernie Esconde)
BALANGA CITY – President Duterte led in the inauguration Thursday afternoon of the Bataan Government Center and Business Hub called “The Bunker” at the Capitol compound here.
The President with Gov. Albert Garcia, Vice Gov. Crisanta Garcia, 1st District Rep. Geraldine Roman, 2nd District Rep. Jose Enrique Garcia III and Balanga City Mayor Francis Garcia unveiled the marker of The Bunker.
At the entrance of the seven- storey building is a replica of an armored tank used by Filipino and American soldiers during World War II.
Duterte said he was amazed with the development of Bataan. He gave the province a grade of 8 out of 10, saying it is one of the fastest growing local government units in the country.
“This is one of the success stories of Public-Private Partnership. Its proximity to Manila, its history and now the presence of the Bataan Government and Business Hub or The Bunker serve as factors in Bataan growth,” the President said.
Duterte said the delays in public transaction are what make the government “ugly”. He underscored the significance of the Ease of Doing Business Act.
He urged Filipinos to be assertive on their rights as taxpayers and said the public has the right to fend off bribes and demand for fast government service.
He said that the Bureau of Internal Revenue should consider taxing the gross income instead of the net to stop corruption in the agency.
The President announced that more heads from the Bureau of Customs, some more than 30 years in the service, will roll.
Gov. Garcia, the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA) and other agencies signed a memorandum of undertaking for the establishment of the 1Bataan One- Stop Service Center for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in The Bunker.
“The modern interior design symbolizes the rise and progress of Bataan from then on. Ang gusaling ito ay bunga ng Public-Private Partnership. Not a single centavo from the provincial government coffers was spent during the construction of this majestic structure. Thanks to our private partner, MTD Alloy,” the governor said.
MTD Alloy is a Malaysian company that built The Bunker that will be turned over to the provincial government after 25 years.
Garcia said 18 national government agencies initially agreed to establish offices in the facility. These agencies and the provincial government whose offices will be housed in the building will be paying rent to MTD Alloy.
“Sa tuwing makikita natin ang napaka-majestic na The Bunker ay maaalaala at mai-inspire tayo sa pagmamahal sa bayan ng ating mga beterano,” he said.
He said that the building has not much concrete or wooden walls inside.
“Ang intensiyon nito ay to have less stress in the workplace. Mas maaliwalas at magkakaroon ng magandang collaboration, team work and efficiency between national and local government offices. Hopefully it will work well for us and will serve to our province with more harmony and be more efficient in serving our people,” Garcia said.
“Ang isa sa features ng The Bunker ay ang Ease of Doing Business. Sa 2nd floor makikita na for the first time in the country national government offices together with local offices will be under one roof and eventually under one system that has never been done in our country,” the governor added.
The Manila Symphony Orchestra and the Aeta children choir from the Magbukon Tribe serenaded the big audience.
Bataan Bishop Ruperto Santos led in the blessing of the big building.
