The municipality of Miagao in the south of Iloilo inaugurated its PHP180 million, modern, solar-powered five-story building on Monday.

Mayor Richard Garin said the new building is equipped with solar panels, internet connection, alarm system, earthquake detector, and disaster risk reduction monitoring covering the whole municipality, including the barangays, among others.

“This is solar-powered. At the roofing, we have a good for 100 watts solar panel for us to save on electricity bills. We have a generator, good for 500 kVA (kilovolt-ampere). So, this building is a no-brownout building; we have solar, electric cooperative and generator,” he said in a press conference.

He said PHP140 million of the funds came from the national government, facilitated by Iloilo 1st District Rep. Janette Garin, and PHP40 million from the local government.

The fifth floor hosts the canteen and an open conference that can host up to 120 people; fourth floor is for legislative, legal office, liaison office of Congresswoman Garin, and an executive lounge; the third floor is the conference room good for 50 people; the second floor is the board room, while the ground floor hosts the assessors and treasurer’s offices.

The design maintained the facade of the old building as a sign of respect for the past administrators of the municipality.

“You bring with you the memories of the past and the learnings of the past while you are progressing towards the modern and more competitive environment,” Garin said.

She added that offices have fewer dividers and each table has the names of employees, so the transacting public can identify and see them at work. (PNA)