The town of Loay is now celebrating following the blessing and turn over of its new town hall, which is nearly seven (7) years in the making.
Loay mayor Hilario Ayuban and Vice Mayor Rodrigo Cubarol together with members of the Sangguniang Bayan including Philippine Councilors League (PCL) Bohol chapter president Jescelo Adiong led the cermonies where the town hall was finally turned over to the local government unit (LGU). The blessing and turn over ceremonies took place on Wednesday, July 1, 2020, reports reaching The Bohol Tribune say.
To recall, the old Loay town hall was damaged by the 2013 earthquake that shook the entire province of Bohol.
For this reason, there was a need to construct a new town hall to replace the damaged one. After nearly seven (7) years, Loay has a new town hall.
According to reports, other key provincial officials who attended the ceremonies were Gov. Arthur Yap, third district representative Kristine Alexie Tutor, acting vice governor Dionisio Victor Balite, Board Member Elpidio Bonita, Engr. Magiting Cruz of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) provincial director Jerome Gonzales.
In simple ceremonies, the contractor, Rudhill Construction and the DPWH, turned over to the LGU the new two (2)-storey building which has a construction cost of P60 million, reports say.
Of the P60 million construction cost, about P20 million was sourced from the Bohol Earthquake Assistance (BEA) funds, and the remaining P40 million came from the funding released through the initiative of Gov Art Yap, at the time when the current Bohol governor was the third district congressman.
Loay is an important town for the third district of Bohol as it is seen as a gateway to the said district, according to reports.
As this developed, the governor and the current third district representative each expressed their support to the continued development and progress of the town.
In a telephone interview, Ayuban said.” Pasalamat ta sa mga taxpayers nga nagbayad ug buhis ky gikan sa buhis ang kwarta nga gigamit sa proyekto. Pasalamat pod sa mga taw nga gihimong instrumnto aron mahatagaan ug katumanan ang maong proyekto.”
Loay mayor told The Bohol Tribune that more than a physical structure, the new town hall is a symbol not just as a seat of power, but a place for the people of Loay to seek help and assistance from their local leaders.
MORE PROJECTS
Ayuban revealed to The Bohol Tribune that the next big project that is nearing completion is the town’s public market, expected to be completed by first quarter of 2021.
Moreover, the mayor said that the town government has started to provide P500 and a cake to each of the senior citizen birthday celebrator and to each person with disability who is a resident of the town.
The mayor added that the local government unit (LGU) solidified its support to scholars.
The mayor also mentioned a school-related project which is a school jeep system where Loay students are given free transportation. The school jeep, Ayuban said, will transport Loay students to their respective schools in Tagbilaran City and in Lila town.
In the same interview, the mayor mentioned a housing project for the town’s poorest of the poor. This project is called “Balay Tinabangay sa Loay”. The housing project aims to build one (1) house each month, Ayuban said. The housing project funding relies heavily on private sector donation, where the LGU donates P15,000 as its counterpart contribution. Each house costs P100,000, the mayor bared.
The labor for the construction is provided by people from the barangay including barangay officials and barangay tanods, Ayuban said.