DPWH to continue convention center plans
DEPARTMENT of Public Works and Highways plans for the Baguio Convention Center will continue.
DPWH regional director Tiborcio Canlas is standing by plans made by the department for the convention center rehabilitation saying work will proceed as planned but will not be finished by next month as originally targeted.
Canlas said the mezzanine floor pushed by the city cannot be accommodated as the BCC structure cannot support the planned addition of another floor likewise nixing the need for an elevator and escalator.
The DPWH official said the seating capacity of the BCC has been increased and will be able to accommodate at least 1300 with the DPWH plans.
Canlas likewise pointed to damage wrought by treasure hunter Eliseo Cabusao to the convention center and said no communication has been made by Cabusao since an initial meeting months ago, informing him of damage.
He added the DPWH has asked Cabusao to repair what was damaged but has since been snubbed by the treasure hunter and may have to repair the damage by themselves provided the Commission on Audit will allow the repairs as it is not part of the rehabilitation project undertaken by the department.
Previously, Councilor Mylen Yaranon proposed and has been given permission to hold a committee hearing on November 14 at the city hall calling on all stakeholders and opening the issue to the public after opposition to the DPWH plans were raised when plans made by the CBAO and the Technical Working Group (TWG) of the city for the BCC were nixed by the DPWH.
Mayor Mauricio Domogan has also asked to compare rehabilitation plans presented separately by the TWG and the DPWH.
Domogan said the DPWH must be able to justify the revisions made by their team as opposed to the approved plans made by the nine-member TWG created by the City Government, if plans of the TWG are proven to be indeed flawed and not feasible, the City Government will use the revised plans of DPWH as guide in the rehabilitation of the Baguio Convention Center (BCC).