Miagao unveils PHP 180M solar-powered town hall

1 of 3

By Mariela Angella Oladive and Jennifer P. Rendon

The municipality of Miagao inaugurated its new five-story municipal hall on Feb. 2—a PHP 180 million facility equipped with solar power and disaster-monitoring systems.

Mayor Oscar “Richard” Garin Jr. said the building was designed to ensure uninterrupted government operations, even during power outages, through a hybrid energy system that combines rooftop solar panels, commercial electricity, and a 500-kilovolt-ampere generator.

“We’re not just building for today but for the future,” Garin said. “This hall reflects our vision of a functional, resilient government center.”

The structure also features internet connectivity, alarm systems, earthquake detectors, and a disaster risk reduction monitoring network that covers the entire municipality, including all barangays.

Of the total cost, PHP 140 million was funded by the national government through the office of Iloilo 1st District Rep. Janette Garin, while the municipal government contributed PHP 40 million. Mayor Garin emphasized that the project was completed without the municipality incurring any loans.

The new municipal hall was built alongside the existing structure, retaining the old building’s façade as a tribute to past administrations.

Congresswoman Janette Garin acknowledged the challenges posed by limited land availability, which influenced the building’s vertical layout. “We are maximizing space and maintaining the historical façade,” she said. “This is not just an infrastructure project—it’s a system designed for transparency, efficiency, and public comfort.”

She added that glass partitions were intentionally used in the layout to allow department heads to oversee staff activities, and all workstations were labeled with employee name tags.

“This is a structure built with the people’s comfort in mind,” she said.

The ground floor houses frontline offices such as the treasurer’s and assessor’s offices, as well as a clinic near the emergency exit where an ambulance is stationed.

The second floor includes the mayor’s office, a boardroom, and the session hall.

A 50-person conference room and other offices are on the third floor.

The fourth floor serves as the legislative level, with offices for Sangguniang Bayan members, the municipal legal officer, the executive lounge, and the congressional liaison office. An elevator provides access up to the fourth floor.

The fifth floor features an open-air canteen and a conference area that can accommodate up to 120 people, with a central open space that may be used during fireworks displays or public events.

A dedicated room in the building monitors closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage from around the town, equipped with direct communication lines to the Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine Coast Guard, and the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.

An integrated alarm system is in place to respond to fire and earthquake emergencies, and communication lines have been established with every barangay.

The building’s solar panels are expected to reduce electricity consumption by half, further enhancing the local government’s sustainability efforts.

Garin noted that the building’s interior was designed with customized, cost-efficient furnishings. “The cabinets are aluminum—fireproof, waterproof, and termite-proof,” he said.

The project was implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways.

The inauguration also served as a symbolic moment of unity, bringing together past and present Miagao leaders.

Former mayors, vice mayors, and councilors—including retired police general and former Mayor Gerardo Flores and former Mayor Erlinda Noble Britanico—attended the event.

Flores, once a political rival of the Garins, and Britanico, under whose term the original municipal hall was built, were among those invited by Mayor Garin.

“There’s no politics here,” Garin said. “They are all part of this. It was their dream that was realized in this generation.”