BAGUIO CITY – The City’s swimming pool located at the Baguio Athletic Bowl is set for getting a rehabilitation.
The facelift is set to go full blast the soonest prompting Mayor Mauricio Domogan to order the closure of the facility starting March 18.
The P43 million project which has been issued a notice to proceed last February 13 will cover the installation of solar panel roofs; repair and rehabilitation of the building, covering replacement of roof to extend to the bleachers area, enclosure of the structure and repainting of the structural frames; construction of new shower and locker rooms; and retiling of the floor.
Domogan instructed Sports Development Officer III Gaudencio Gonzales to implement the closure to ensure the safety of the public and to coordinate with the Department of Education (DepEd) for the needed adjustments in the training of the athletes who will be affected.
Arch. II Edwin Ancheta of the City Buildings and Architecture Office (CBAO) said no improvement works specifically for the swimming pools were included in the project, awarded to RAJ Construction following the results of the bidding.
The project will pilot the solar panel technology which the city adopted in a bid to reduce the city’s power consumption costs by serving as power source in lighting the structure and in heating the Olympic-size swimming pools for trainings and various local, national, regional and international sports competitions.
City Building Officer Engr. Nazita Banez earlier said the technology was found viable in the city based on the feasibility studies done by the Department of Energy.
Banez said they expect to cut down energy consumption and the resulting electric bill of the swimming pool by 50 percent while the return of investment is protracted in 13-15 years.
It is targeted for implementation at City Hall and at City Hall Annex.
Domogan said the project is in line with the City’s thrust to tap renewable energy for economic and environmental benefits.
The mayor last year approved Ordinance No. 43 series of 2018 adopting the use of energy conservation technologies and clean renewable energy in all of the City Government facilities and projects.
The City Accounting Office, in its Summary Report of Benguet Electric Cooperative bills payment for the year 2015, disclosed that the City paid ₱71,149,742.23 for its electric consumption which can be reduced considerably with the use of these modern energy-saving technologies.
By: Aileen P. Refuerzo
Banner photo: Eunice Ulat, then performing for Baguio, got a good vibes at the Baguio Swimming Pool Complex as she clocked 5:44:81 in the 400 meter free style category of the 13-16 year-old girls category during the 2016 CARAA to emerged the winner. The swimming complex is set to get a facelift this year. File photo by Paul Rillorta
