New Meycauayan city hall inaugurated
THE new city hall of Meycauayan was inaugurated on May 20 in simple rites led by Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra.The five-story building was constructed on a 6,041-square meter lot bought by the city government in Barangay Saluysoy along Manila North Road, just a few steps away from the the Meycauayan Station of the North-South Commuter Railway.
The new city hall has its own helipad, theater and prayer room, heritage museum, library, and gift shop. Bulacan Fourth District Representative and now city Mayor-elect Henry Villarica said that the new city hall is expected to be “a magnet for development” as it is seen to encourage more investors.
Villarica said the new city hall was designed to meet the future needs of the city government until the next 15 to 20 years.
The project was started in 2017 during Villarica’s first term as mayor. The city funded the P449- million project. Outgoing Mayor Linabelle Ruth Villarica who will replace her husband as congressman said that an additional P500 million has been allocated to complete the building. The money was lent by the Land Bank of the Philippines.
Guevarra said that a city hall is not only a structure to pay taxes and fines or obtain permits. He emphasized that it also reflects a city’s stability, orderliness and cleanliness.
The new city hall is the third for Meycauayan. The old municipal hall, built in 1958, was located in the town proper. In 2000, it was relocated to Barangay Camalig which is too far from the new city hall.
“We moved the new city hall here at Barangay Saluysoy to be more accessible to Meycauayeños at hindi na sila mahirapan pa pumunta ‘dun sa luma na malayo sa kabihasnan,” Villarica said.
Meanwhile, at the directive of Mayor Villarica, a Heritage Museum was established on the first floor of the new city hall that features the history of the Tanning Industry of the Philippines that originally started in Meycauayan.