BAGUIO CITY September 20 – Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan reminded the design teams of the district and regional offices of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the City Buildings and Architecture Office (CBAO) to strictly adhere to the prescribed deadline for the completion of the master development plan of the city-owned Baguio Convention Center so that the initial funding earmarked for its repair and rehabilitation could be used as scheduled next year.
The local chief executive admitted he is satisfied with the progress of the preparation of the design and the finalization of the detailed program of work for the overall development of the city’s premier convention facility although there are insinuations from the team members that they might not be able to beat the prescribed deadline of completing the plans by the end of November.
He acknowledged the efforts of the private sector, particularly the United Architects of the Philippines (UAP) for their valuable contributions in the preparation of the design and detailed plans because a member of the group who is based in Dubai came home to share his expertise on the matter.
“We reminded the members of the team to stick to the prescribed deadline and to do their best to get the job done on or before the fixed deadline so that the city will not lose the chance of using the funds for the noble project,” Domogan stressed.
Once the overall master development plan of the Baguio Convention Center is done, he added the technical people from the DPWH and the local government will then determine the works that could be initially implemented with the P180 million approved funding while the unfunded portion could be submitted for funding to the DPWH in the 2019 annual budget.
DPWH-CAR officials earlier warned the local government that once the funds for the project will not be bid out for the programmed project by the end of the year, the funds will revert back to the national coffers and the city can no longer access future funding support once it will not be able to use up the funds for its prescribed purpose.
DPWH and CBAO personnel agreed to work on the design of the project until the end of the month while the detailed plans for the project will be done from October to November to be right in time for the scheduled bidding of the project by December.
Bueno informed city officials that the provision of funding for the project was an offshoot of the letter of Mayor Domogan addressed to Public works Secretary Mark Villar for funding assistance for the city to repair and rehabilitate its premier convention facility coursed through Undersecretary Cabral when she visited the city late last year.
Domogan encouraged the members of the design teams to continue working on the design and plans for the project and for them not to think of the prescribed deadline so that they will be able to do their assigned tasks well and for them to come out with the best rehabilitation and repair design for the convention center.
By Dexter A. See
