Contract for construction of new Koronadal city hall inked

KORONADAL CITY, Philippines — Construction of the new city hall here worth nearly P200 million is seen to kick off in the next few weeks after the city government and the contractor finally signed the work contract on Thursday. Local construction firm Marbel Construction Development Corp. bagged the rights to construct the new facility that Mayor Fernando Q. Miguel said would be a "tourism landmark of the locality." But the signing ceremony was marred by controversy after councilors from the minority bloc, including Vice-Mayor Vicente R. de Jesus, boycotted the affair. Mr. de Jesus said the Sangguniang Panlunsod has not given the mayor the authority to enter into a contract for the construction of the new city hall. The Development Bank of the Philippines earlier agreed to finance the construction of the new city hall building through a loan agreement with the local government. The proposed four-storey building with a basement is expected to be completed in eight months from the start of construction works. Koronadal is the regional seat of government of Central Mindanao, which straddles the provinces of South and North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani and the cities of General Santos, Tacurong, Kidapawan and Cotabato. - Romer S. Sarmiento, BusinessWorld