BAGUIO CITY – Mayor Braulio Yaranon last week formed a task force to take charge of the rehabilitation of the Baguio Convention Center (BCC).
In his Administrative Order No. 22, the mayor said there is a need to create a lead group for the center’s repair in view of the proposals received from private developers for the renovation of the convention facility.
“In order that the city can reap full benefits in the plan to [rehabilitate] and spruce-up the facility, there is a need to create a task force to look into the best options presented by private developers to the city,” the mayor noted.
The task force will be chaired by the mayor himself with City Administrator Benedicto Alhambra as convener and vice chairman. Among the members of the task force are City Building Administration Officer Engr. Oscar Flores, City Engineer Leo Bernardez, City Environment and Parks Management Officer Arch. Josephine Chan, Legal Officer Carlos Melchor Rabanes and Engr. Antonio Caluza of the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE) local chapter.
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The body will be tasked to: identify areas of concerns and recommend solutions in line with the rehabilitation plan for the convention center; study and recommend possible innovations that may form part of the plan; study various proposals; and come up with the terms of reference for the rehabilitation plan.
In his order, the mayor recalled that the BCC was conceived by former First Lady and Minister of Human Settlements and Ecology Imelda Marcos and realized through the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) under former General Manager Roman Cruz as a “fitting venue for national and international conventions and congresses.”
It was constructed in 1974 but ceased operations in 2002 to give way for the repair of its damaged fixtures and facilities, as planned by the GSIS. The plan however did not materialize upon the request of the city government, which sought to acquire and manage the facility.
On February 18, 2003, a memorandum of agreement was signed between the GSIS through president Winston Garcia and the city government through former Mayor Bernardo Vergara for the sale of the center to the city to allow it to “rehabilitate, restore and upgrade the center and undertake proper management system for the center’s use as a tourism facility.”
“There is a need to repair, renovate and redesign the Baguio Convention Center in order that the purpose for which it was constructed may be revived and that the provision of the MOA between the City Government of Baguio and GSIS may be realized to its full extent, inevitably making the facility truly a self-perpetuating asset that may benefit the entire city,” the mayor said.