CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — In a bid to make Mabalacat a model city, Mayor Crisostomo Garbo is eyeing for the establishment of a P1-billion worth of new Municipal Hall.
According to Mayor Garbo, if the plan of the city government would be realized, the new municipal hall will be located in a 2-hectare lot in Barangay Mabiga here, in front of Mary Help of Christian beside the San Rafael Church.
“We are planning to purchase 2 out of the 6-hectare lot of a private owner. The lot is worth P400-million. Then, we will construct a municipal hall worth P600-million with complete facilities and equipment. It is now on the drawing board and the plan is now being finalized,” the city mayor said.
Garbo said the fund will come from the P1-billion bank loan. Asked if the city government has the capacity to pay, he said, they have the capacity to enter into a loan agreement because the budget of the city is now tremendously increasing to more than P700-million a year aside from the increasing P1.7-billion internal revenue allotment (IRA) they receive annually.
Garbo disclosed that they will start to serve (pay) the loan after two years upon release. “The loan will be paid for 12 years and we will only allot P8-million per month. That’s around P100-million per year. This will be done without sacrificing the operations, programs, and services of the city government needed by the people,” he said.
“The price of a lot in the area reached to P40, 000 t0 P50, 000 per square meter but the owner of the 2-hectare lot offers only P20, 000 per square meter for the city, so we grab the opportunity.
“Six hectares po iyon pero ang kinukuha natin ay 2 hectares lang. At least makakatulong sa kanila (sa may-ari) ang development ng lupa kapag naipatayo na natin ‘yong municipal hall,” he said.
The P700–million local income of the city comes mainly from Clark Freeport Zone, bus terminal and also from the business taxes.
Garbo said that it is his vision to make Mabalacat City a model city not only in Region 3 but in the whole Philippines.
“I want to see Mabalacat City free from informal settlers. Wala ng nakatira sa mga Estero, sa tabi ng ilog and I dream to convert it into a green city,” he also said.
Garbo said they can only do it through the prayers of the Mabalacquenios. “Please pray for us so we could succeed and pass all the trials that we are facing as a city. Let us pray and work for the welfare of the people in Mabalacat City. God will prevail,” Garbo appealed.
