From Vision To Fruition
“It will give them pride. They’ll look at it and feel proud that something like this is in their city.”
-Mayor Nice Apura
Just in time for its 10th Charter Day celebration, Carcar City inaugurates its first ever city hall today.
In 2010, then-councilor Nicepuro Apura told himself, “When I become mayor, I will build a city hall for Carcar City.”
Seven years later, the first city hall—in shades of old rose and white, stands in the city center.
“Building the city hall was not a walk in the park. Constant changes in the plans, financial constraints—these were just some of the many struggles I encountered,” Apura, now the mayor, says.
The four-storey building boasts of an eco-friendly design. The glass windows surrounding the offices allow natural light to enter, which means less energy consumption at daytime. The generous smattering of greens all over the building, including the lush landscaping on the quadrangle, makes for a fresh ambiance.
Asked how the new city hall is going to affect the city’s residents, Mayor Apura says, “It will give them pride. They’ll look at it and feel proud that something like this is in their city.”
The building has a child-minding or daycare center, where visitors or employees can leave their kids under the supervision of social workers; a lactation center; a 252seat audio-visual room; and a 500-seat social hall.
It also has PWD-friendly features such as ramps, designated restroom cubicles and an elevator system. The city hall is the first building in Carcar to have an elevator.
The new city hall accommodates the different local govrenment offices and departments, making transactions smoother and faster. Councilors have their legislative offices in the building, too.
At the ground floor, spaces are available for rent for quasi-government agencies. And there is ample area for parking.
Integrated into the city hall is an eightstorey tower with a roof deck that allows a panoramic view of Carcar City. The roof deck is equipped with a telescope and a warning system, and can be used as a convergence area during disasters and emergencies.
The city hall is only the first phase of the “smart city” that Mayor Apura has envisioned Carcar to become. Expected to rise in the next 10 years is the Carcar City Center, a commercial hub that includes a public market, a public transportation terminal, a sports complex, an Olympicsized pool and oval.
Although a decade might seem like a long time, one thing’s for sure—if the new city hall is any indication, Carcar City holds promise and has a bright, booming future ahead.