BAGUIO CITY – Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan underscored the needs of concerned government agencies and the local government should be the utmost priority in the development and utilization of the 5,000-square meter lot of the Bontoc-Ifugao-Benguet-Apayao-Kalinga (BIBAK) along Harrison road before anything else should be done in the said property.
The local chief executive claimed that if there is a need to subject the property for development through the private-public-partnership (PPP) scheme, the interest of the concerned government agencies and the local government should always be in the forefront of the consideration because the area is suitable to be developed as a one-stop government center for all the regional line agencies that do not have permanent offices in the city.
He pointed out that the initial cost of P100 million for the put up of a multi-story building in the area that will serve as a cultural and multipurpose center that was endorsed thrice to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for funding is too small compared to the comprehensive master development plan that was crafted for the property to serve its purpose.
“There are a number of regional line agencies that are looking for office spaces in the city, thus, the best thing to do in the BIBAK property is for the said agencies to pool the funds earmarked for their rentals or find proper sources of funds that could be pooled to be used in constructing the desired building in the area where all offices will be situated thereby providing better environment for the people to transact business which will surely be much easier,” Domogan stressed.
According to him, the Cordillera Regional Development Council (RDC-CAR) and the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC-CAR) will continue to follow up the matter with the DPWH so that the construction of the multi-story cultural and multipurpose building in the vacant property will be realized in the coming years, especially that the city is a melting pot of different tribes where a venue to showcase such culture is equally important for the preservation and protection of the rich culture and traditions of the Cordillerans.
Earlier, the local government was successful in demolishing the dozens of illegal structures that were allegedly erected by informal settlers in the area to pave the way for the development of the property that will serve as the city’s cultural center among other uses of the proposed 8-storey building that will be erected in the area using government funds.
He asserted that the local government does not collect any real property for the area because it is a government lot unlike before that the informal settlers were required to pay taxes for their declared improvements done in the area which does not mean conclusive ownership of the areas that their structures have occupied.
Domogan remains optimistic that the plan to build a multi-story structure within the property that will serve as the city’s major cultural center will be realized so that tribal elders will be able to effectively and efficiently pass on to the present and future generations the rich culture and traditions of the various tribes in the different parts of the region so that the same will not get lost in the course of time.
By Dexter A. See
