Baguio gov’t hits DPWH on Convention Center rehab

By Dexter A. See 

BAGUIO CITY  – The local government hit the Cordillera Dept. of Public Works and Highways saying it should implement original plans of the proposed multi-million rehabilitation of the city-owned Baguio Convention Center used in the conduct of public bidding for the project.

            This was the result of the public hearing conducted by the local legislative body’s Committee on Public Works was geared towards soliciting the sentiments of the public for the position to be taken by the local government on the ongoing implementation of the revised plans for the project.

            Councilor Maria Mylen Victoria G. Yaranon, chairperson of the City Council Committee on Public works, said the DPWH-CAR, pursuant to earlier agreements with Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan, should justify why the proposed mezzanine, escalator ad elevator were deleted from the original plans and for the technical personnel of the agency to show proof that the original plans prepared by the city’s technical working group (TWG) is not feasible from the start that warranted the revision.

            The local legislator pointed out the DPWH-CAR will is required to prove to the local government the revised plans are structurally sound for the overall safety of the future users of the city’s premier convention facility.

            Engr. Bonifacio dela Peña, a well-known structural engineering the city, said that the DPWH-CAR must show proof the bleachers to be placed inside the convention center will be structurally sound aside from asserting that the original plans, programs of work and other documents for the project passed through rigid studies conducted to ascertain the soundness of the structure once completed with the added features of a mezzanine, escalator and elevator for senior citizens and persons with disabilities.

            Earlier, the local government accessed some P180 million from the DPWH central office which was earmarked for the proposed rehabilitation of the city’s premier convention facility acquired from the State-owned Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) in 2011 for P350 million.

            City Buildings and Architecture Office (CBAO) chief Engr. Nazita F. Bañez relayed to the committee the position of mayor Domogan for the agency to show concrete proof the original plans for the project that included a mezzanine, escalator and elevator, was not feasible and that the revised plans are far more superior than the original plans prepared by the city’s TWG composed of seasoned private and government architects and engineers who worked double time to finalize plans used in the bidding process.

            The contractor started implementing the project sometime in March this year and the project duration is around 360 days to end in early February next year.

            Dela Peña confirmed that DPWH-CAR regional director Engr. Tiburcio Canlas is willing to include another P50 million after the works funded by the original budget of the project to complete lacking amenities of the facility and improve its condition to benefit the greater interest of the city.

By Dexter A. See