As 2010 draws to a close, a new chapter of Iloilo’s progress and development beckons. Much needed infrastructure projects were completed, which has prompted a construction boom of sorts all over the city and province. Many of them, like the New Iloilo City Hall is rapidly shaping up and is already due for completion next year.
The 7-storey edifice and future landmark of Iloilo City will house most of the Iloilo City Government offices. Finally, the Iloilo City Hall will have a proper home after transferring from the 3rd floor of Robinsons Place Mall. Here’s a photo update of the construction site at Plaza Libertad:
We can already see half of the building topped off. According to a news article released in October, the “shell” or architectural framework of the building might be finished as early as February 2011. It will then take a few more months to complete works on the interiors of the building.
The New Iloilo City Hall Project raised concerns when plans came out to convert the nearby “Ker and Co.” lot into an additional parking space. The Ker and Co. building is one of the oldest merchant houses still standing in the city. It was used as the headquarters of one of the pioneer foreign trading companies firms involved in Iloilo’s thriving sugar industry over a century ago. Much to the relief of heritage advocates, the city hall planners revealed that the main structure of the Ker and Co. building will be preserved. Only the open grounds will be used as a parking lot.
Ker and Co. Building located behind the City Hall
The cost of the New Iloilo City Hall Project was initially set at P368 million. Many revisions of the original plans have been made, which will entail an additional cost of P273 million. Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog revealed plans of turning the future city hall to a “green building” by installing solar panels to cut down power consumption of heating and air conditioning units. Although a costly initial investment, the solar panels will save the city electricity and bills in the long run.
View of the Iloilo City Hall ongoing construction from the Green Mango/Coffee Break branch at Plaza Libertad (J.M. Basa St.)
John where is Iloilo getting its money anyway ? not from the structures , roads etc , production especially from agriculture like marine food , vegetables , rice , poultry , livestocks , corns and hardly you cant see them in the City right? it’s from the labors–and the corresponding value of money by services to produce such stuff is being used to something we dont have– gasoline/oil/crude , Concrete , Clothing ,household appliances and hardwares…and with exchange , it produced taxes that is diposited in government…that is later to be used for construction/maintenance and all equipment but not limited to roads , buildings , hospitals and schools. Whenever we have manufacturing here in Iloilo.. a span of 5 years youll expect numerous skyscraper that operates such industry… yet , hardly manufacturing companies invest here … so as at the moment , lets resort to medieval agriculture
The (new) Iloilo City Hall, Provincial Capitol and our 2 flyovers are epitomes of Iloilo Corruption while the corrupt politicians get all the credit for having them built. That been said, such structures reflect our progress as a developing city. We can do more. Hala bira Iloilo.
It Looks like Catedral In Milan, not bad anyway
The William Bayani building in front looks an eyesore to the new Iloilo City Hall building. This therefore needs to be rehabilitated/renovated so it can compete with the other modern buildings that are springing up in the city… while preserving those richly and beautifully built as they reflect the glorious past of Iloilo City
Well, we must preserve our history, so i think it would be good if the government would preserved historic buildings in Iloilo, so that the future generation would see a glimpse of the beauty of the once Queen City of the South.
The boarded up building was the old Campos Grocery Store in the 50′s. I hope some entrepreneurs would renovate it and put it to good use for the structure seems to be still solid. It’s at a very good location as well.
One thing that still lingers in my mind…what will the owners of William Bayani Building do to the building? Inside of it has been turned hollow and the building was left empty.