BAGUIO CITY – Officials of the local government and the Cordillera office of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH-CAR) commended the commitment of the pool of technical experts that prepared the design that will be used by the agency for the rehabilitation and repair of the city-owned Baguio Convention Center using the P180 million initially earmarked for the project next year.
Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan pointed out that the services rendered by the pool of technical experts deserves the utmost recognition from the local government because they were able to come out with the design that is fitting to what the local government wants for the convention center of the people of the city.
The local chief executive underscored that the time, efforts and resources spent by the pool of technical experts in coming out with a very good design is immeasurable which could not be replaced by whatever compensation, especially their willingness to render their services for the city, that is why their actions are worthy of emulation by others.
“We commend the sacrifices and efforts of the members of the city’s pool of experts in working hard to finish the design for the rehabilitation and repair of our Baguio Convention Center. Our words are not enough to convey our commendation to them so we want the public to know that the members of the pool of experts rendered their services to the city by working out the design that reflects what our convention center should be after its overall rehabilitation,” Domogan stressed.
Aside from Councilors Maria Mylen Victoria G. Yranon and Elmer Datuin and veteran Arch. Joseph Alabanza, the city’s pool of experts was headed by City Building and Architecture Office (CBAO) head Engr. Nazita F. Bañez with the support of architects and engineers from different professional organizations and universities in the city, namely, Arch. Donna R. Tabangin; Arch. Geromina S. Arellano; Arch. Mark M. Tidang; Arch. Maria Jorquesa A. Hakcholna; Arch. Eugene Lumdang; Arch. Irene Florendo; Arch. Melvin Alimba; Arch. Joseph Alabanza; Arch. Miguel R. Caluza; Engr. Bonifacio dela Peña; and Engr. Joselito Buhangin.
Further, a Building Information Management (BIM) Team was composed including Arch. Anthony Raquepo, Arch. Ronnie Quijana, Arch. Joy Ellen G. Pascua, and Arch. Michael John Astudillo worked with the Technical Working Group in the development of the design database. Yaranon explained among the following are the highlights of the retrofitting and renovation plan: retaining the historical and architectural significance and footprint of the site and structure; proposing for the maximum use of renewable energies, natural lighting, and ventilation in the building and site design; accounting for ecologically feasible and resilient building and site development; integrating pedestrianized areas; increasing parking areas through basement parking; and expanding the seating capacity to 2000.
Engr. Angelita Mabitasan, chief of the DPWH-CAR’s construction, planning and design division, recognized the fact that the agency used the plans and design prepared by this pool of experts in the bidding of the planned rehabilitation and repair of the city-owned Baguio Convention Center and that the experts deserve credit for it.
However, she explained that based on the agency’s standing policies, it is their personnel that will sign the plans and design of the project and it is important that the agency recognizes the fact that the approved plans and design were the works of the members of the city’s pool of experts who sacrificed their time, efforts and resources just to complete the documents required from them in the prescribed deadline.
By Dexter A. See
