In the end, let’s aim for a city that shines not just with its buildings, but with the well-being of its people
Ah, Pasig City, home of the latest entry in the “Most Expensive Edifices in the Known Universe” competition.
Move over Burj Khalifa and the International Space Station, there’s a new kid on the block – the P9.6 billion Pasig City Hall Complex!
The news has locals scratching their heads and wondering if they missed the memo about Pasig needing to impress the aliens.
First, let’s take a stroll down memory lane.
Historically, city hall projects have ranged from the utilitarian to the grandiose.
However, none has ever quite matched the sheer audacity of spending nearly P10 billion on a building while the city’s public services are apparently running on fumes.
Mayor Vico Sotto, lauded for his clean and progressive image, seems to have decided that what Pasigueños really need is a city hall so magnificent it can be seen from space.
Now, imagine you’re a resident of Pasig. Your local hospital is out of aspirin, your kid’s school is fundraising for chalk, and the road outside your house has more craters than the moon.
But wait!
Here comes the city government with a solution: a gleaming new city hall! Problem solved, right?
The letter from Curlee Discaya, Pasig’s very own Santa Claus in contractor form, suggests the city’s funds might be better spent on things like healthcare and education.
You know, little things like keeping people alive and giving kids an education.
But hey, why settle for mundane necessities when you can have a monument to municipal governance?
Discaya argues the price tag of P9,623,100,154.64 is a tad excessive.
According to him, any seasoned builder will tell you that even high-quality constructions should not exceed P70,000 per square meter.
But who cares about norms when you’re aiming for the Guinness World Record for the most lavish local government building?
Then there’s the ethical angle.
Sure, the Philippine Supreme Court and various ethical standards suggest public funds should be used for the greatest good.
But let’s not get bogged down in legalese and morality.
If the residents of Pasig need to see a doctor, they can always head to the new city hall and marvel at its architectural splendor. Laughter is the best medicine, after all.
On the flip side, let’s consider the defense.
Perhaps Mayor Sotto is a visionary.
Maybe he sees a future where city hall is the center of not just municipal activities but also cultural enlightenment.
Who needs more hospitals when you can have a building that’s “future proof”? Maybe, just maybe, in a few centuries, historians will look back and say, “Wow, those Pasigueños really had their priorities straight.”
Sotto’s team assures us the construction will be transparent and well-planned.
I, for one, can’t wait for the grand opening, complete with a laser light show and maybe a cameo from Elon Musk.
After all, if you’re going to spend billions, you might as well go all out.
So, which side is right?
Is it the camp that argues for practicality and immediate public needs, or the camp that dreams big with a city hall that’s a beacon of progress (and possibly visible from Mars)?
In my highly unbiased, professional opinion, both sides need to lighten up and find some common ground.
Perhaps build a moderately expensive city hall and use the savings to throw a city-wide party where everyone gets free school supplies and aspirin.
My recommendation: Take a deep breath, Pasig.
Maybe scale down the project to a reasonable level. Use the savings for the dire needs of your residents.
And when the new, slightly less extravagant city hall opens, celebrate it as a symbol of practical progress – with fireworks, because who doesn’t love fireworks?
In the end, let’s aim for a city that shines not just with its buildings, but with the well-being of its people.
After all, isn’t that what good governance is really about?
