Bogo gets P31.6M for ruined city hall

CEBU, Philippines - The city of Bogo has received P31.6 million representing the insurance coverage for its City Hall that was damaged during the onslaught of super typhoon Yolanda.

Development Bank of the Philippines Bogo City Branch Manager Felicitas Ruñez turned over the check to Mayor Celestino “Junie” Martinez, Jr.

Ruñez said the amount represents the grant, which was approved by the adjuster of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS).

GSIS is the insurance provider of the P155 million-worth structure although the entire new City Hall is worth P250 million.

The city government had estimated the damage to the City Hall at P99.5 million. Of the amount, P34.3 million represents the total cost of damage of the structure alone.

City Planning and Development Officer Carlo Fernando Logarta said the P31.6 million will be used to replace the city hall’s roofing, electrical and glass walls.

Repair on other damaged equipment not covered by the insurance will be shouldered by the city government.

The new Bogo City Hall, which was inaugurated last April 2013, was among the government structures damaged during the super typhoon.

Out of the P321.9 million total estimated cost of damage on government infrastructures in the city, the City Hall had suffered the most.

Like other structures, the City Hall lost its roofs and damaged most of its components.

Other infrastructures damaged by the typhoon were the city sports complex, public library and museum, public plaza structures and lampposts, motorpool, Hall of Justice building, streetlights, public market buildings, bus terminal, slaughterhouse, port building, training center, health centers, schools; 29 barangay halls, day care centers, covered court; and road networks. —/JMO (FREEMAN)