New Bakakeng Central hall inaugurated; more to follow
Mayor Benjamin Magalong, Rep. Mark Go and Vice-Mayor Faustino Olowan including several city councilors led other officials, barangay officers and other guests during the New Bakakeng Central Barangay Building/Hall ribbon cutting and marker unveiling ceremonies held last Wednesday, May 4.
Senator Ronald ‘Bato’ Dela Rosa was the event’s special guest who was represented by his office staff Gen. Ramon Purugganan who stressed the Senator’s continuous support for the Summer Capital’s improvement.
The Mayor said the Senator was instrumental in assisting him to facilitate funds for the P56-million modernized multi-level structure that would serve as the standard for similar projects currently in the pipeline.
Magalong mentioned that a lot of people doubted him when he first broached the idea of a modernized barangay hall more than a year ago and has now turned into a reality that would benefit the community’s residents.
He especially thanked the City Buildings and Architecture Office under Arch. Johnny Degay who spearheaded the project in collaboration with other concerned agencies including the building’s contractor.
Degay said more barangay multi-purpose halls with modernized features will rise in the city following the completion of the Bakakeng Central structure including those in Quirino Hill and Irisan barangays targeted to be completed this May and later this year, respectively.
He said the Bakakeng Central facility has elicited positive feedback from residents for its impressive quality and features that incorporate amenities like a basketball court, evacuation center, day care center, senior citizens office among others.
The Mayor had always emphasized his thrust to raise the bar of infrastructure project implementation in the city to ensure quality outputs and among those prioritized was the modernization of barangay halls, Degay said.
He disclosed that the Chief Executive had also secured funding for two more barangay hall projects at Engineers Hill and Bayan Park and are now on the planning stage while several others are in the works. – Gaby B. Keith
