the old City Hall building before it was demolished (picture from website of News Today Newspaper)


The former Iloilo City Hall is now the home of the University of the Philippines in the Visayas


November 14, 2008


Apparently, it has almost been a decade since plans of having a new Iloilo City Hall started. The talks commenced, plans were discussed, money of the people were spent but until this day, there is no City Hall structure yet.

I was only a teenager during the time plans of the City Hall started and now I am already the youngest City Official and elected public servant of Iloilo City. Until this day, we are still hoping and dreaming to finally have the new city hall. As of the moment, the executive branch of the local government unit is holding office in Robinson's Place, a mall here, and the legislative branch is located at the second floor of the Iloilo Terminal Market, a public market here. The old Iloilo City Hall building was already demolished to pave the way for the construction of the new Iloilo City Hall. It seemed that many issues and concerns have brought about the long delay of the construction of the new City Hall from location, failure of bidding, escalation of prices, etc.

I have constantly pushed for the immediate start of the construction of the new Iloilo City Hall. I have even publicly mentioned that as long as it won't start, something could happen that will further delay its construction.

Iloilo City is a 1st class highly urbanized city and the regional hub of Western Visayas but might be the only one of its kind to have no City Hall of its own. The money loaned for the city hall is ready. Its location has been finally agreed upon. The bidding process is said to have again started. The estimated cost ranges from P350 Million to P468 Million pesos.

I am doing my part in pushing for the start of the construction as soon as possible. I believe that the new City Hall will not only serve as the house of the city but also as a showcase of the progress of Iloilo City. By having our own city hall, there will be a one stop service center for all the more than 400,000 residents of the city and the millions of city visitors.

I believe that it is incumbent upon the present city administration to finally make the dream of a new Iloilo City Hall into a reality. If so, it will be one of the best legacies of the outgoing local government administration.