BACOLOD CITY – The city government kicked off the construction of the four-story legislative building here on Monday, December 4.
It aims to finish the construction of the edifice at the back of the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC) before the midterm elections in 2025.
BACOLOD City officials headed by Mayor Alfredo Abelardo ‘Albee’ Benitez (sixth from left) and City Engineer Loben Raphael Ceballos (right) lead the groundbreaking of the P515-million legislative building at the back of the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC) on Monday, December 4. (Albee Benitez via Facebook)
City officials led by Mayor Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez and City Engineer Loben Raphael Ceballos led the groundbreaking ceremony marking the start of the 18-month contract period of the project.
This project costs P515 million and is part of the priority projects funded by a P4.4-billion city government loan from the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP).
Ceballos said the design of the legislative building is hybrid and is incorporated with green design, making it environment-friendly, and sustainable.
It also has a provision for solar panels, a rainwater collection system, and is a two district-ready structure, he added.
Ceballos said the 22 columns on the façade of the building symbolizes the mayor, vice mayor, and councilors of the city.
He said that offices from the existing BCGC building that will be transferred to the legislative building are the Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD), Office of the Building Official (OBO), City Engineering Office (CEO), Bacolod Housing Authority (BHA), and other offices needed to be placed at the ground floor to enable clients to deal with government transactions conveniently.
The session hall of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) will be moved to the third floor while a conference room will be situated on the roof deck of the legislative building, he added. There will also be a helipad.
The city government issued the notice of award to Manila-based contractor Legacy Construction Corp./M.K.U. Construction and Supply on September 20.
The contractor reaffirmed its intention and willingness to undertake the design and build project on October 12. However, it was postponed due to the celebration of the MassKara Festival.
Early last month, the city council received the mayor’s letter requesting the authority to sign and a copy of the proposed contract.
The plan of constructing a legislative building came after the city saw the need for expansion to accommodate other offices.
Benitez said that they are also planning to convert the football field at the back of the BCGC into a parking space.