Aesthetic turned around of Urdaneta City Hall

The renovated Old City Hall in Urdaneta City (Photo complement of Police Headlines)

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

 URDANETA CITY – While other mayors conspired with members of the legislative council to borrow from banks so they can have a cut, the mayor here has been making a buzz after he spent P17 million only to spruce up the old city hall that could dwarf those hundred of millions of pesos loan-funded municipal and city edifices.
Mayor Amadeo Gregorio Perez IV said the amount he appropriated for the renovation of the old city hall here comes from the local funds.
 “We did not borrow from the bank for it,” he quipped.

BIGGEST IN REGION 1:The P80 million City Hall
 at Brgy. Anonas, Urdaneta City

 He showed to the media his electronic powered sliding door that ushers group visitors like farmers inside his swanky and cozy office that is twice as big as the office of the governor of Pangasinan.
“This used to be the session hall of the Sangguniang Panlungsod,” Perez referred to the spacious office embellished by immaculate white huge tiled floor, classy light brown colored curtains that jibe with the big glass windows, and a 36- inch TV monitor that connects to a dozen of CCTVs installed in strategic locations of the city.
The renovated edifice has been complemented by architectural mastery designed granite walled gardens composed of dozens of bonsai, other plants, lights, and granite made global statues located in front of the façade of the hall.
 “They are open for 24 hours. Maraming nag da-date diyan pag gabi,” an amused Perez stressed.
 He cited the maroon colored concrete floor of the parking lot in front of the City Hall. He said vehicles that used to park there are now prohibited.
 “The space there is reserved for the people who do business at the city hall that is why I reserved a car park at the two sides and back of the building”. “I did not allow cars to park there as the pavement belongs to the people.
He cited how spic and span the pavement that complement for the reconstructed façade of the old city hall. “They are free of litters,” Perez whose aggressive stance since three years ago on litter bugs that mete a fine of P500 to anyone apprehended earned him plaudits in and out of this city.
 The new look of the old city hall has been spruced up by a combination of white and brown paint in and out of the building. The floors at the first and second storey are covered by huge white tiles where some of the callers have been hesitant to step because they were too clean as personnel there keep wiping them with a mop.
 Perez said even the wood made stairway from the ground floor to the second have been replaced and elegantly painted with shinny brown. “Oh, they are much better than the stair of the Capitol and even the Sison Auditorium in Lingayen,” one media man, who asked anonymity, quipped.
 “Look at the new constructed balcony that has two newly built flag poles. They were inspired by those at the house of President (Emilio) Aguinaldo in Cavite,” Perez showed the balcony from one of the windows of his office.
 He also pointed to the giant bonsai that stand alone at the glass walled office of a department head similar to the other offices located at the other part of the first floor. “I bought that plant for P17, 000 only”.
Perez said he mulls to buy the nearby building used to occupy the String Computer so some personnel based at the mammoth P80 million city hall in Barangay Anonas here could be relocated. He explained that all the chic improvements he initiated from the millions of pesos granite made giant water buffalo that welcomes the wide eyed motorists from the North and the South of Luzon to the dapper renovation of the old city are for the generation of this burgeoning city to be proud of.