Senator Imee Marcos with La Trinidad Mayor Romeo Salda, Vice Mayor Roderick Awingan and other officials and Department of Public Works and Highways representatives led the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the new municipal building on Sunday, February 26, 2023.
The Senator facilitated the initial amount of P30 million thru the DPWH for the project.
She said that the old municipal hall of La Trinidad is sentimental to her family as this is where her parents, then President Ferdinand Edralin Marcos Sr. and former First Lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos were married in a civil ceremony in April of 1954.
“Dito nag simula ang kwento ng mga Marcos,” the Senator said sharing story when her parents went to La Trinidad to get married.
Marcos vowed to help secure additional fund for the completion of the new municipal building with total project cost of P184M.
The La Trinidad local government unit earmarked at least P42M for the construction of the new municipal building.
Salda expressed gratitude to the Senator for her support and initial funding for the project which aims to provide better service to the public.
The mayor said that with the increasing number of clients and transactions being made every day, there is a need to upgrade the facilities of the municipality to provide better, faster and more convenient service to clients.
The envisioned new municipal building located at the back of the old municipal hall, expanding to the La Trinidad Vegetable Trading Post area is four-storey structure. The first floor would be utilized by the stall owners and vendors displaced at the trading post area. Three floors would serve of as office spaces for the local government including the Sangguniang Bayan Hall.
The building is expected to be completed by 2025.
Also present during the groundbreaking ceremony are Benguet Governor Melchor Diclas, Cheren Tacio representing Cong. Eric Yap, DPWH Benguet 1st District Engineering Office Assistant District Engineer Edgardo Enriquez, other municipal officials, employees and stakeholders.
The Senator also witnessed the distribution of cash assistance to at least 500 beneficiaries who are mostly farmers, solo parents and persons with disabilities in La Trinidad and met with the Young Farmers Challenge winners at the Benguet State University.
She later graced the Panagbenga Float Parade and also witnessed the distribution of cash assistance to another 500 beneficiaries in Baguio City composed of students and solo parents. (PR)