Sunday, July 20, 2008 [ philstar.com ]
Valenzuela’s new city hall building, built at the cost of P36 million, was designed to “discourage corrupt practices,” Mayor Sherwin Gatchalian said.
The building, located at the new city government complex along MacArthur Highway, is now open to serve the public. It houses the mayor’s office, city legal office, public information office, special projects office, city environment and natural resources office and other key executive offices.
The old city hall that housed the mayor’s office will be renovated to accommodate the city courts and the city prosecutor’s office.
“This is not mere facelift for the city. These new edifices are more than just buildings. They are transformations from the old way of governance, and reflect fast and efficient service to our constituents who deserve nothing less,” Gatchalian said.
The building features sitting areas where people can wait in comfort while their transactions are processed.
The building has no enclosed cubicles, and all offices are visible from the outside through wide glass windows. The building’s design is also environment-friendly and energy-efficient since it maximizes natural lighting. – Jerry Botial
