Is Tubigon town ready to attract big time investments?

By all indications it is, but the big question is, whether is it an idea whose time has come?

That's the big question mark. Only recently McDonalds eyed the old municipal building as its out-of-town outlet in that part of Bohol but of reasons only known to the proponent the plan fizzled out. It was suspected that the recent earthquake that also hit the port town was one reason the multi-national company backed out from its plan to establish a branch in that part of Bohol. Whatever, the local government is still hoping to convert the old municipal building into commercial space for any interested taker. It may be recalled that the town hall suffered a major damage as a result of the earthquake but since it was no longer fit for habitation, the LGU decided to demolish it for good.

What to do with the open space located in the heart of town?

If Mayor Marlon Amila has his way, he wants the old municipal hall open to commercial use. But much to the chagrin of the good mayor, Tubigon is not Mayor Amila and Mayor Amila is not Tubigon. This means he has to contend with the silent majority who are openly opposed to the plan of transferring the municipal hall away from the town center. The town plan is to transfer the seat of local government power to an area where other government offices are located. Among them are local offices like the DSWD, TESDA, fire department, and the Tubigon Community Hospital, among others. It may be a novel idea for the town to be located in the proposed site but reports reaching The Post indicated that all of Tubignons are not convinced that it's the best thing the ever happens to the planned transfer. In a random interview with residents, although there are some segments who are sold out to the idea, majority of them expressed reservations of the LGU's plan. For example, tricycle drivers are excited of the possibility to locate the new municipal hall. They said the new location enables them to ferry passengers to and from the town center. But a big segment of the Tubigon population was reported to have balked the idea of a new location for its municipal hall.

According to this particular sector, a municipal hall far from the town center, is a burden to those who are used to a one-stop concept of transacting business. Among those who expressed opposition to the planned transfer of the municipal hall are those who are living in the upland barangays. The uplanders expressed reservation to the location of the municipal hall on the pretext that for all their transactions in the town proper they should all be completed in one place located near each other. They cited an example such local institutions located near other like the church, banks, public market and municipal hall. According to this group of residents, in one fell swoop, all transactions in these public places can be had without having to travel to a distant place to consummate anyone's business. There are those who opposed the plan belonging to the so-called Tubigon intelligentsia. According to them, funding support for the project is a tall order if indeed it will be one of those promised by Pres. P-noy under the PPP concept. Definitely not in the first order of priorities, the Tubigon project will have to pass through the PPP wringer where even those in the top of the heap identified earlier as up for implementation is still in limbo.