The city government presented Monday morning its newly-acquired light and heavy equipment worth P39.5 million to construct satellite city halls this year and to support the implementation of local infrastructure projects.
Mayor Lucilo Bayron said the construction equipment units were purchased under the Acquisition Program for 2019 using their 20 percent development fund to start establishing four satellite city halls that will extend services to far-flung barangays.
“Iyan ay partial pa lang ng equipment acquisition program natin for 2019. Marami pang darating at ang target talaga natin para sa full implementation ng ating mga mini city halls. Kapag nakumpleto natin ang mga ‘yan, ‘yong mga maintenance ng ating mga kalsada sa labas na kailangang-kailangan ng mga magsasaka at mangingisda maaasikaso na rin natin ng mabilisan,” Bayron said.
The equipment included an excavator unit worth of P6,380,000; one unit of grader-P5,550,000; two units of 10-wheeler dump trucks-P16,600,000; and a single unit of a six-wheeler dump truck valued at P2,492,000.
Manuel Ballares, administrative officer III of the City Engineering Office (CEO), told Palawan News that the other equipment under the acquisition program is expected to arrive within the year.
“Within this year 2019 makukumpleto na lahat ‘yan,” said Ballares.
Satellite city halls
Bayron said he had already appointed former city councilor Jonjie Rodriguez to supervise the overall operations constructing the “mini city halls”.
Rodriguez ended his third and final term as a member of the City Council following the 2019 local polls.
“Si Jonjie ay hahawak ng lahat ng satellite city halls natin. Itong term na ito inaapura natin na ma-establish na natin ‘yong mga mini city halls. Siya ang magsu-supervise,” he said.
Bayron said two executive assistants will be assigned in each mini city halls to “hasten the delivery of infrastructures and other services” in Puerto Princesa’s 66 barangays.
Meanwhile, Rodriguez said that the mayor appointed him only Sunday, July 6, as a co-terminous employee under the position of executive assistant IV to lead the supervision of the four mini city halls which will be established in Brgys. Luzviminda, Napsan, Macarascas, and San Rafael.
“Ang main trabaho ko ay ako ‘yong magsu-supervise doon sa apat na mini city halls na ating itinayo natin. ‘Yon ang ating magiging pangunahing trabaho ‘yong mai-address in behalf of the mayor ‘yong mga concerns ng ating mga kababayan. Ang main objective ng programang ito is to bring the government closer to the hearts of our people at ‘yong mga nasa far-flung barangays. Sa halip na pupunta pa sila dito sa bayan para idaing ‘yong kanilang mga problema, sa pagtatayo ng mga satellite city halls na ito ay doon na lang sila pupunta,” said Rodriguez.
Rodriguez noted two of the four city halls were already built in Brgys. Napsan and Macarascas.
Meanwhile, he said the city government will also start building the Luzviminda and San Rafael satellite city halls.
Rodriguez also said this project was planned by the mayor during his previous term and underwent public consultations.
Rodriguez said the public all agreed and succumbed to the idea.
He reiterated the mini city halls will be focusing mainly on the infrastructure side for the meantime.
Rodriguez said these four areas were the strategic locations that could best serve nearby barangays.
