In Baybay City, Leyte; Construction of new City Hall begins

BAYBAY CITY, Philippines — Mayor Carmen Cari led Baybay City officials in the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the new City Hall building at Barangay Gaas, last December 8.

The mayor's sons, Leyte 5th district Representative Jose Carlos Cari and Vice Mayor Michael Cari, together with the city councilors, attended the laying down of the time capsule—consisting also of a copy of the architect's plan and a medallion of the Saint Benedict—at the construction site.

The new City Hall will be built atop a hill of the city's government center, and Architect Danny Fuentebella of Tacloban City—who designed it in collaboration with Baybay-based architects—said the design is as imposing as it blends with its surroundings, and follows the land contour.

The new City Hall, expected to be finished early of 2019, has a total area of 1.4 hectares, and constructed at a cost of P457 million, the funds of which come from a P250-million loan from the Development Bank of the Philippines and P157-million loan from Land Bank of the Philippines, according to Mayor Cari.

The construction is a joint venture between Manila-based WERR Construction and the Our Lady of Assumption Enterprises. When completed, Mayor Cari said they would vacate the old city hall and legislative building beside the seaside plaza, and rent these out. (FREEMAN)