In Cebu City: First satellite city hall opens

CEBU, Philippines - In order to build a unified relationship with the mountain barangays, the Cebu City government opened yesterday the first ever satellite city hall in Barangay Taptap.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama led the opening of the first phase of the building which the city government reportedly spent P9, 363, 698.

“I have always said that the signs of the times do not favour centralization but autonomy, which teaches people to be self-reliant and independent. That is why we brought the city hall here,” expressed Rama.

Sebina Alcantara, 61, a resident of Brgy. Taptap, extended her gratitude to the city government for putting up a satellite city hall in their area.

“Dako kaayo mi og pasalamat ug kalipay di nami mulusad sa syudad labi na kun maglukat og cedula, cenomar ug uban pa kay gasto ug hassle g’yud kaayo namo. (We are very thankful for this since we can already save money and time from going to the city to get our cedula, cenomar and all others),” Alcantara said.

One fire truck will also be in placed at the satellite city hall, said Rama, to immediately respond to emergencies, considering the increasing population and structures in the mountain barangays.

Further, the construction of phase 2 and 3 of the “City Hall sa Bukid” would need an allocation of P14 million.

“Let’s do things one at the time. Dili karon everything will be available here,” said Rama, adding that the Office of  the Human Resource Management will take care of the manpower  to be assigned in the satellite office.

During the launching, at least 400 constituents also availed of the free medical check up and notary and legal services provided by employees of the different departments of  the city hall who attended the event.

“We have to be nearer to the people in the upland (area),” said Rama, adding that through the satellite city hall they can attend easily to concerns of  the residents like on agriculture and other issues.

Rama said the “City Hall sa Bukid” has always been his dream, as emphasized in his inaugural address in 2010.- /ATO (FREEMAN)