BAGUIO CITY – Technical personnel of the Cordillera office of the Department of Public works and Highways (DPWH-CAR and the local government agreed on the final design for the proposed rehabilitation and repair of the city-owned Baguio Convention Center (BCC) to allow the utilization of the P180 million earmarked by the national government for the said purpose.
Councilor Maria Mylen Victoria G. Yaranon, chairman of the City Council Committee on Public works and head of the city’s technical team, said that it was agreed by the experts that the design of the city’s pool of designers will be used by the DPWH-CAR for the upcoming bidding of the repair and rehabilitation of the city-owned convention facility.
“We are elated that the DPWH-CAR officials and technical personnel have agreed to use, as the basis for the bidding of the project, the design and plans prepared by our pool of experts in the city so that we will be able to access the funds for the implementation of the project once the funds will be released by next year,” Yaranon stressed.
While it is true that there be slight adjustments on the plans because of the current procurement system of the agency, Yaranon underscored that what is important is that it was the design of the city’s pool of experts that was used as a basis for the repair and rehabilitation of the 40-year old convention center.
Aside from Yaranon, Councilor 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, she added a Building Information Management (BIM) Team composed of 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.
Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan expressed his gratitude to the technical experts who sacrificed their time, effort and resources in coming out with the feasible and acceptable design for the convention center because the facility is for everyone and the people of the city deserve an improved condition of the convention center.
By Dexter A. See