2 months ago
19
CEBU CITY — For councilor and mayoral candidate Nestor Archival, relocating the Cebu City Hall to the South Road Properties (SRP) may not be a good idea at the moment due to various concerns.
Archival warned that the project, initially estimated at P500 million, could escalate to P4 billion, similar to the cost overruns of the ongoing delayed construction of Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC).
According to him, the CCMC, originally designed for 500 beds, reportedly has only 150 operational, with some patients sharing beds. He said public health should take priority over new office buildings.
Archival noted that relocating the city hall to SRP would make government services less accessible, particularly for senior citizens and low-income residents.
It would also strain taxpayers and divert funds from more pressing public needs.
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While city officials have pointed out that SRP will be part of the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit system, he remained skeptical about the project's timeline and efficiency.
"City Hall is within reach now. If we move it, how will people get there? Without clear transport solutions, we're making government harder to access," he said.
Beyond health care and transport, he questioned the city's spending priorities.
The senior citizens, who previously got their maintenance medicines under the Long-Life program, now have to shoulder their expenses.
The city's scholarship program has also become more difficult for students to qualify for due to bureaucratic requirements.
City officials, led by Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia, argue that the move to SRP would centralize government offices, freeing up the heritage district for cultural projects.
The proposed government complex would include a 15-story executive building, an eight-story legislative building and a separate structure for the Department of General Services.
The existing city hall would be converted into a museum.
"Every peso should go where it matters most. Right now, Cebuanos need hospitals, scholarships and public services — not a City Hall in an area with no proper transport system," stressed Archival.
With the proposal still in its early stages, the debate over the city hall transfer is expected to be a key issue in the upcoming mayoral elections.
