by RG Alama

Panabo City (9 October) -- City Mayor Jose Silvosa Sr., has said that he intends to preserve the present city hall even as the City Government is set to transfer its offices to a P120-million modern new City Hall.

During Mayor Silvosa's first press conference as the City Mayor held at the City Information office at the City Library building yesterday (Oct. 8), the Mayor said that he has recommended to the City Budget Officer the allocation of a P1-million budget for the upkeep of the old wooded city hall which served as its municipal hall during Panabo's days as a municipality.

Mayor Silvosa said that although they would be transferring to a new City Hall he will not let the old building fall into a state of disrepair. But he said that whatever decision there is on how the old City hall would be utilized will depend on the approval of the City Council and also upon consultations with the people of the City.

"There are suggestions that it would be converted into a museum while others are suggesting that it could be converted as an office building I cannot decided on that since it will be up to the City Council to approve whatever plans on its future use." Mayor Silvosa said.

The City mayor said that if the old City hall would be converted into a museum, it would become one of the City's tourist attractions where the city could also derive income to offset the costs in maintaining it. However Silvosa leaves the decision to the people and to the City Council.