The new provincial Capitol will be completed during the first quarter of next year.
Gov. Edgar Chatto issued marching orders to double time the construction to beat its completion by February 2018. The new Capitol sprawls on a 3.2 hectare lot near the Carlos P. Garcia Park, in front of Bohol Wisdom School along CPG North Ave., this city.
The P700 million new Capitol will be an imposing three-storey building with a basement parking. The future home of the provincial governance is constructed on an elevated area which back exit leads to JA Clarin st.
The governor said the expected traffic congestion in the area is being addressed with the widening of the existing road that leads to the Bohol Medical Care Institute (BMCI) in Dao district, this city. It will be widened to a four-lane highway. The nearby roads like the Calceta st. will likewise be widened, he said.
The construction of the new Capitol was pushed through despite objection from the business sector due to the expected traffic congestion.
The other proposed area for the Capitol was in Mt. Banat-i in barangay Bool where a lot already owned by the provincial government is available for such edifice. However, engineers said the area requires a lot of engineering works due to the slope of the hill.
The area which was earlier proposed by then Gov. Rene Relampagos could have made the Capitol to a tourist destination by itself as it will be located on a hill overlooking Tagbilaran and Dauis.Â
The on-going construction of the new Capitol is perceived to cause traffic congestion especially along CPG North Ave. which goes on heavy traffic fronting Bohol Wisdom School.Â
It may be recalled that this site was proposed for the new Capitol wayback in the late 60s when this area was not yet congested as it is today.Â
Urban developers could have objected to the construction but the provincial government was already decided to construct the new Capitol in the area which used to the Provincial Jail.
However, Gov. Chatto said to make the new Capitol spacious, the Hall of Justice and the DPWH-1 offices will be transferred to other sites. He told the Chronicle that City Mayor Baba Yap committed to provide the area where the Hall of Justice will be relocated.