City needs Php350 Million to rehabilitate Maharlika

The local government needs around PhP350 million to fully rehabilitate the Maharlika Livelihood Center to achieve the city’s desire to make the facility one of the major economic enterprises where local micro-small and medium enterprises can thrive.

City Budget officer Leticia O. Clemente, who is also the chairperson of the Maharlika Livelihood Center Transition Committee, said that the city government already submitted a proposal to the Office of the President requesting financial assistance for the implementation of the simultaneous rehabilitation of the facility to avoid unnecessary inconveniences on the part of the existing tenants.

She admitted that local fund sources are not sufficient to fund a sustained implementation of the desired rehabilitation of the facility and that it will surely take a longer period of time to do so if the city is to totally fund the rehabilitation.

Initially, the city budget officer claimed that the city government will prioritize the implementation of minor improvements in the different parts of the facility aside from the implementation of the rehabilitation of the burned basement to allow better business climate in the different portions of the center.

Clemente stated that aside from the implementation of the various works that had already been funded by limited local sources, the city is also working on the enforcing policies governing the lessees in the different portions of the center to enhance their business operations in the future.

Earlier, the State-owned Human Settlements Development Corporation (HSDC), an attached agency of the agriculture department, formally turned over to the city government the management of the Maharlika Livelihood Center following the lapse of the 50-year contract that allowed the agency to administer, manage and operate the facility.

The city government department head expressed hope that the Office of the President will grant the requested financial assistance earlier submitted so that a significant improvement could be introduced in the facility that will allow improved conduct of business in its various portions. – Dexter A. See