ILOILO CITY, Iloilo, Philippines — There is no ban for cameras and video cameras at the seven-storey new Iloilo City Hall.

“In the first place, there was no public pronouncement that the media cannot bring cameras or video cameras,” clarified Jeffrey Celiz, political liaison officer of Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog.

“There is no intention to discriminate against the media,” Celiz emphasized.

However, Celiz stressed that safety and security protocols have to be followed as City Hall is technically not under the jurisdiction of the city government. Contractor FF Cruz & Co. Inc. — Freyssinet Filipinas Corp. has not turned over the building yet to the Iloilo city government.

“The city government has no full authority of the building. It’s with FF Cruz,” Celiz said, pointing out that the Iloilo city government is currently using the second and fifth floors with the transfer of nine offices recently.

Celiz explained that journalists and media outlets wanting to go to the building for reportorial purposes have to coordinate with City Administrator Norlito Bautista who will then coordinate with FF Cruz’s building safety manager.

“This is only being implemented to avert any untoward incident,” Celiz said.

He stressed, however that “this is only temporary; once the City Hall is under the jurisdiction of the city government, no coordination is needed.”

The remainder of city government offices currently renting the third floor of Robinsons Place Iloilo and at the Iloilo Terminal Market are scheduled to transfer to the new city hall building by the second week of January 2012.

The new city hall is scheduled to be inaugurated during the Dinagyang Festival during the fourth week of January next year.