Bulacan city eyes government center

CITY OF SAN JOSE DEL MONTE, BULACAN, Philippines – Mayor Reynaldo San Pedro said it is now the right time to build the city’s government center “that will serve the people with ease and convenience.”

San Pedro said the city council has formed a site selection committee to look for the most suitable location for the planned government center.

Lawyer Marian Jo Mercado, assistant city administrator, chairs the committee.

San Pedro said the plan would centralize all government agencies to serve the city’s almost half-million people living in 59 barangays and scattered on 10,553-hectare land.

The ideal area for the government center, he said, should not be less than five hectares.

“This is a long-time plan even by the past administrations, but I want to start building it, and this is the time. When are we going to do it? This was planned when cement was only P50 per bag and now, it’s already P200. The price will certainly go higher in the future,” he said.

San Pedro said the land should be situated in a strategic location where transportation and communication facilities are accessible.

The site, he added, must have existing drainage and sanitation facilities, and with high anticipated future development.

San Pedro said the peace and order situation in the site as well as its cultural and historical attributes will also be considered.