A graphic of the proposed new Mabalacat City Hall. From the Mabalacat News Now FB page.
MABALACAT CITY — Mayoral aspirant Diosdado “Deng” Pangilinan said he will oppose the plan of incumbent Mayor Cris Garbo to erect a new Mabalacat City Hall by getting a P600-million loan for the acquisition of a land amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Pangilinan said “it would be a waste of money” because the current Mabalacat City Hall at Xevera Mabalacat is functional. The old municipal building can also be renovated while the Mabalacat Annex Building inside the Clark Freeport Zone is well maintained.
“Yun pong P600-million loan ay para sa lupa palang po iyon at wala pa ang bagong city hall. Ang tanong ko po, saan na naman mangagaling ang pondo para sa itatayong city hall?,” Pangilinan asked.
“Sabi nila balak nila utangin ay P1.2 billion, P600 million para sa lupa at P600 million para sa construction ng bagong city hall,” he said.
“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,” Pangilinan stressed.
The broadcaster declared: “What we need is a modern medical facility amid the continuing threat of Covid-19.”
“Ngayong panahon ng pandemya ang gusto ng tao hospital hindi city hall,” said Pangillinan.
The Mabalacat City government is planning to purchase two hectares of land in Barangay Camachiles owned by the Philippine Long Distance and Telephone Company, according to Garbo.
