New provincial capitol and government center proposed

CAPITOL GROUNDS, Bataan – Alloy MTD Philippines Inc., represented by its President, Mr. Isaac S. David recently submitted an unsolicited proposal to the provincial government of Bataan for the funding and development of the proposed new Bataan Provincial Capitol and Government Center project.

Said proposal is premised on the provision of the Local Government Code (LGC) specifically Book 1, Chapter 1, Section 12 that encourages provinces, cities and municipalities to “endeavor to establish government centers where offices and branches of national governments may be located”. Section 18 of the LGC likewise empowers local government units (LGUs) to “acquire, develop, lease, encumber, alienate or otherwise dispose of real or personal property” and “to apply their resources and assets for productive, developmental, or welfare purposes, in the exercise or furtherance of their governmental or proprietary powers and functions and thereby ensure their development into self-reliant communities and active participants in the attainment of national goals”.

The project intends to re-develop the existing capitol complex into a mixed-use office, commercial and event facility by constructing a 5-level government building annexed to the existing Capitol Building; a 142-room business hotel and three (3) Business Processing Outsourcing/Information and Communications Technology (BPO/ICT) buildings and with commercial and retail spaces.

MTD Phils. Inc. offers to undertake the development and implementation of the project, which include the funding, design, construction, operation and maintenance of the constructed facilities at the site owned by the Province.

To implement the project, MTD proposes to carry out the design, facilitate funding and construct the facilities and recover its investment through the rental of the office and commercial spaces and operation and maintenance of the facilities. The government building will be turned over to the province at the end of 30 years, while continuing to operate the three (3) other buildings for the remaining period of 20 years.

This proposed development will give emphasis to the public service orientation of the Province with a unique feature of further attracting investments and creating a window of employment for its constituents. But what is more enticing about this proposal is that the Provincial Government will not be shelling out even a single centavo for this entire project.