By Joseph Almer Pedrajas
The construction of the new Caloocan City hall of justice will start late this year or early next year, Mayor Oca Malapitan said.
During the inauguration of the city’s first people's park Wednesday, Malapitan bared that they are just awaiting a writ of possession of a private lot in Grace Park where they could start the building of the new Regional Trial Court (RTC).
"May inaayos pa kaming mga papeles. Fi-nile na namin 'yun for public use. Expropriation kasi 'yun," he said.
Malapitan once told the Manila Bulletin that the construction of the new RTC is part of his plans to help the national government on his third term.
"Magpapagawa ako ng hall of justice. Dapat dyan sagot ng national government, ng Supreme Court,” he said.
He added that he is eyeing to finish it before his term ends.
"Three years na lang kasi ako, kailangan kong matapos ang project," he said.
"Kapag nasimulan na, in three months, tapos yun," he added.
Once the new hall of justice is built, the old RTC on 10th Ave. will be demolished and be converted to a commercial lot.
"Plano ko sa dating hall of justice, ipapa-upa ko kung may uupa. Dating public market kasi 'yun," he said.
Aside from a new hall of justice, Malapitan said that he will also build a new city jail in North Caloocan where the inmates at the congested city jail in Kaunlaran Village, South Caloocan will be relocated.
"Magbibigay ng P300 million ang BJMP kung mayroon kaming lupa. Mayroon kaming lupa, kaya nga lang may mga unti pa kaming problemang inaayos," he added.