Construction of new Talisay City Hall on

Even with the flak it has drawn, Talisay City Mayor Eduardo Gullas has gone ahead with the construction of the P89-million four-story city hall building in Lawaan.

"Let the critics do the worst and I will do my best," Gullas said during the groundbreaking and capsule-laying ceremonies yesterday.

Construction of the new Talisay City Hall has drawn flak from the minority block as it raised questions about how the lot and the contract for construction work were awarded.

The new city hall will be built on a 4.6-hectare property in Lawaan owned by the Yap family. Earlier, the city council approved a resolution for the mayor to negotiate with the Yap family and purchase the property from them.

Yet even with this endorsement, the minority block questioned the transfer of the city hall to Lawaan because of the lack of quorum and public consultation when the council approved the deal. But Gullas said he held several talks with non-government organizations, urban poor, students, the Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry and other sector representatives where feedback on the transfer was taken up.

He said 19 of the 22 barangay leaders were similarly consulted where the majority signified their approval to have the city hall transferred to Lawaan.

"If that is not a hearing and consultation, I do not know what consultation they mean," Gullas said.

Already WT Construction was awarded the contract to complete building the new city hall in 10 months.

Even with this development, a manifesto continues to be circulated expressing protest on the transfer of the city hall. The manifesto has reportedly drawn at least 300 signatories who are blocking the transfer because the present location of the city hall has been considered a historical landmark.

Gullas said the present city hall will be converted into a Talisay College. — Freeman News Service