Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto on Monday, August 12, personally met with individuals in front of the city hall, who were allegedly protesting the construction of the New Pasig City Hall.
Mayor Vico Sotto talks to protesters on Monday, August 12. (Photo from Mayor Vico Sotto)
"Kahapon, may natanggap ang media na press release. May magra-rally daw na 'MAHIGIT 300 NA PASIGUENO SA MALAWAKANG KILOS PROTESTA BUKAS 10AM SA HARAP PO NG CITY HALL NG PASIG, AUGUST 12, 2024.' Nakarating ito sa akin, kaya 10 a.m. kanina, pinuntahan ko sila dahil open naman tayo sa mga tanong (Yesterday, the media received a press release saying that more than 300 Pasigueños will conduct a rally tomorrow at 10 a.m. in front of the city hall on August 12, 2024. The information reached my office, hence, I personally went there because we are open to questions)," Sotto said.
However, Sotto found out that all participants of the so-called "rally" protesting the construction of the New Pasig City Hall were from Quezon City, who don't even know why are they brought in Pasig.
"Pag tiningnan n'yo po sa gilid ng city hall makikita n'yo andami na pong mga cracks napakalaki na nakakatakot na po. Kung sino po ang mga taga Pasig dito, nakikita n'yo naman po kahit sa loob. Pero alam ko po 'yung iba sa inyo galing QC at Caloocan (If you look around the city hall, you will see a lot of huge cracks that are really scary. Those from Pasig can see those cracks even from inside the building. But I know that some of you came from QC and Caloocan)," Sotto said.
"Kung may tanong po kayo, willing po ako sagutin dahil bukas tayo. Sa totoo gusto ko nga po nagtatanong ang mga tao dahil ibig sabihin may pakialam sila. Pag hindi nagtatanong ibig sabihin walang pakialam (If you have questions, I am more than willing to answer it because we are open. In fact, I would appreciate it more if you ask questions because it proves that the people care. If they don't ask questions then that means they don't care)," he explained.
The mayor stressed that it is okay for people to ask about the construction of the new city hall given its big budget, however, it is a different story if the questions have dark political motives.
According to the city government's investigation, a political group is behind the rally as well as other press releases aimed at tarnishing its reputation.
"Muli po, bukas tayo sa mga katanungan at pagsusuri. Handa tayo para rito, dahil ang ginagawa natin ay napag-isipan nang maigi, maganda/kailangan para sa kinabukasan ng lungsod, at transparent ang proseso (Again, we are open for questions and investigations because everything that we do are transparent, well thought of, and aimed at improving the future of our city)," Sotto said.
"At tungkol naman po sa New City Hall, asahan niyo na magiging available sa publiko ang detailed costing nito kapag na-finalize na ito (design & build modality po kasi at sa ngayon ay may requirements pa ang winning bidder bago tayo tumungo sa contract signing) (With regards to the New City Hall, rest assured that its detailed costing will be available for the public once it is finalized)," the local chief added.