Carcar City Starts Construction of New City Hall

Construction has started for the new Carcar City Hall, a part of the PHP600-million first phase of its ambitious PHP2-billion new Carcar City Center.

Carcar City, situated some 45.7 kilometers south of Cebu City, intends to develop a total of 34.7 hectares of land for the new City Center to decongest areas along the national highway.

The City Center will also have a sports complex, livestock auction market and spaces for commercial establishments.

Phase 1 will be for the PHP350-million City Hall, PHP90-million transport terminal and PHP160-million public market.

The project will be financed by the proceeds of a loan, but the ordinance covering its PHP600-million loan for Phase 1 is still awaiting the Cebu Provincial Board’s (PB) approval.

The Cebu PB committee on laws, headed by PB Member Joven Mondigo, is assessing if it’s viable for the city to pay PHP70 million yearly for 15 years, without sacrificing basic services.

The Carcar City Government is applying for a PHP600-million loan with the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) to finance the City Center first phase.

Carcar City Mayor Nicepuro Apura, who submitted Ordinance 4-15 last Jan. 23, 2015, said the PB has 30 days under the law to act on measures submitted before the provincial legislative body.

If no action is taken within that period, Apura said the ordinance would be deemed approved under Section 56 of Republic Act 7160 or the Local Government Code.

In a position paper submitted last May 5 to the PB, Apura and Vice Mayor Mario Patricio Barcenas said the city has the capacity to pay based on a DBP study which showed the city has an income of PHP125 million in 2012, PHP141.97 million in 2013 and PHP161.3 million in 2014. (PNA) LAP/EB/EBP