CALBAYOG CITY- A new township is being mulled by the city government to expand the development of this city. This was disclosed by Mayor Ronald Aquino who said that the move will help decongest the city proper adding that government offices, to include the City Hall, will be constructed at the “New Calbayog City.” While Calbayog is the country’s third biggest city in land area (880.74 km2), its infrastructure development and businesses are largely focused at the city proper. The proposed new site is located at the Tomalon Estate, four kms away from the city proper. Two architectural firms from Metro Manila had signified their interest to work with the city government in conducting a feasibility study for creating the Tomalon Estate as uptown Calbayog City. Road network construction to the area funded by the city government worth P60 million for the transversal road and another P30 million to connect with the main road is ongoing. “We cannot expand the city proper so we are planning to relocate the City Hall, the national government offices and develop a new site for Calbayog,” Mayor Aquino explained. Aquino said that the city government owns 27 hectares in the area but needs an additional 83 hectares or a total of 100 hectares to construct the proposed Calbayog uptown. The City Assessor’s Office is now identifying the land owners to be acquired by the city government. Aquino added that the city government is contemplating to partner with the Land Bank of the Philippines or the Development Bank of the Philippines to acquire a loan in developing Tomalon Estate as the new Calbayog City.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
