DPWH to turnover convention center to city by August 15

BAGUIO CITY – The newly refurbished city-owned Baguio Convention Center (BCC) will be formally turned over to the local government by the Department of Public Works and Highways Cordillera (DPWH-CAR) and the contractor by August 15, 2019 in time for the 110th Charter Day anniversary of Baguio City on September 1, 2019.
City Administrator Bonifacio dela Peña said he already had initial talks with DPWH-CAR officials and the contractor on the current status of the ongoing rehabilitation of BCC where he was assured that the facility will be ready to be turned over to the city on the aforesaid date.
A portion of the property, however, will be used by the contractor to temporarily stockpile the units of heavy equipment that were used during the rehabilitation of the said facility while awaiting its transport to their other project sites.
The city administrator said the local government will have the first crack to use the newly rehabilitated convention center as it will serve to be the venue for the main program during the 110th Charter Day anniversary celebration themed “Baguio@110; Breath of Fresh Air” on September 1, 2019.
“We remain optimistic that the scheduled turnover of the convention center to the city will be realized so that the facility will be used for the main program of the Charter anniversary of Baguio,” dela Peña said.
He also said that President Rodrigo R. Duterte is being eyed as the guest of honor and speaker during the anniversary program but there are other alternative speakers in the pipeline in case the Chief Executive will not be available on September 1, 2019.
In 2018, the local government accessed some P180 million from the public works department through the initiative of former Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan and City Planning and Development Officer Evelyn G. Cayat for the rehabilitation and upgrading of BCC built over 4 decades ago.
The rehabilitation project was implemented in March 2018 and was supposed to be completed in February this year but the same was delayed due to numerous intervening events that delayed completion.
Part of the improvements that were implemented in the rehabilitation include the upgraded sound system, increased seating capacity, refurbished seats, and improved aesthetics, among others. BCC was constructed by the Ministry of Human Settlements in 1978 to serve as venue for the world chess championship match between world champion Anatoly Karpov and Victor Korchnoi.
The local government acquired the property from the State-owned Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) in 2012.
 
Dexter A. See-PIO/ABN

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