Pascual envisions modern government hub for growing CdeO

Seeing government centers in other cities made City Councilor Juancho Pascual envision a similar government hub for Cagayan de Oro, where the 85-year-old City Hall and other dispersed government facilities continue to serve a growing city.

Pascual recalled travelling by land from Mindanao to Luzon during a Christmas break and saw different city halls and government centers along the way.

During his visit to Sorsogon, he admired the city’s government buildings, wide roads, and well-planned government area.

“I was in awe of what I saw, and I remember thinking, 'I wish we could someday do something like this for Cagayan de Oro,’” Pascual said.

He said the experiences happened long before the current discussion on the proposed new government hub and shaped his views that a new government center should be more than simply having new buildings.

“It isn’t just about parking, air-conditioning, or new tiles,” he said.

Pascual said the feasibility study presented to the City Council envisions consolidating government offices, some of which are located in different locations in the city, and developing more integrated and digitalized services, with adequate transaction and waiting areas and improved accessibility for senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs).

The proposed government hub would also provide better parking and traffic circulation, disaster-resilient, open and green spaces, and room for future expansion.

The study also projects long-term savings through lower maintenance costs, energy-efficient facilities, solar power, and other operational efficiencies, instead of continuously spending on aging and fragmented government facilities.

He added that the area’s potential site, which is 22.9 hectares, gives the opportunity to plan for the growing city in the next several decades.

Pascual, however, stressed that the vision must be weighed against the city’s financial capacity, saying the proposed P8.5-billion financing should undergo scrutiny before any commitment is made. (PGU/SP)