BAGUIO CITY – Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan ordered the City Environment and Parks Management Office (CEPMO) to immediately conduct an inventory on the waste materials derived from the demolished structures at the Baguio Athletic Bowl that paved the way for the implementation of its multi-million rehabilitation before turning over the same to the City General Services Office for safekeeping.
Domogan asserted the waste and salvageable materials from the demolished structures of the Athletic Bowl Grandstand should be formally turned over to the city government by the contractor and the Department of Public Works and Highways – Baguio City District Engineering Office (DPWH-BCDEO).
“The waste and salvageable materials are still the property of the city that is why we must secure the materials from being lost so that we will be able to use such materials for future projects,” Domogan said.
Cordelia C. Lacsamana, City Environment and Parks Management Officer, said city personnel had been deployed in the Baguio Athletic Bowl to monitor the demolition of the grandstand while supervising the inventory of the waste and salvageable materials.
Lacsamana explained there were some materials which were used by the contractor in re-building the grandstand but it was not yet clear whether or not it was part of the inventory that was conducted for the purpose.
She cited CEPMO personnel and security guards assigned by the city government in the Baguio Athletic Bowl were strict in monitoring the demolition of the grandstand and securing the waste and salvageable materials.
The CEPMO chief said they will coordinate with the DPWH-BCDEO relative to the findings that some of the waste and salvageable materials were recycled by the contractor, RUA Construction and Development Corporation, in re-building the new grandstand in time for the Flower Festival and the Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association (CARAA).
While the General Services Office is the sole custodian of city properties, Domogan tasked the CEPMO to initially handle the inventory of the waste and salvageable materials and, when the turnover is complete, the same to the concerned office for safekeeping.
The DPWH-BCDEO is currently implementing rehabilitation works in the Baguio Athletic Bowl with the initial phase having a funding of P14.7 million was already completed.
The second phase of the rehabilitation which is the total repair of the grandstand and the rubberised track oval having a total budget of P50 million is still underway.
However, the tartan track oval will be the one that will be put on hold until such time that all the major activities of the city and the Panagbenga will be completed by March 8 while awaiting the arrival of the imported tartan track oval from Germany which will have a total duration of at least 60 days.
Domogan appealed to the frequent users of the Baguio Athletic Bowl and the attendees for the CARAA sports meet, Panagbenga Grand Street Dancing and Grand Float parades as well as the closing ceremonies for their utmost understanding and patience for the inconveniences that they will experience considering that the projects are still underway and that they will be able to enjoy the fruits of the rehabilitation once completed in the future.