“Iconic capitol building stays”, Gov. Abet

BALANGA CITY, Bataan – However spectacular the plans are for the P2.4-billion government center here, the 65-year-old edifice will remain the face of the provincial capitol, revealed Governor Albert Garcia.

“The old capitol will not be demolished. It will be maintained and the development will rise from its rear,” Garcia said in an interview at his office. This building was built in 1949 and finished in 1950 after the first capitol building near the current Balanga City hall (site of the Robinson’s Galeria) was razed to the ground by Japanese bombers during World War II, according to the Balanga City Encyclopedia.

The timeworn edifice will be preserved because it has already been an icon of Bataan’s history and durability, and will serve as entryway to the proposed five-level Bunker Building, said Garcia. The governor expressed hope that groundbreaking of this ambitious project will push through come April or May should talks with funder and developer Malaysian company MTD Philippines Inc. take shape.

“We are still under negotiation because the process is meticulous,” he said. Under public-private partnership, the New Bataan Provincial Capitol and Government Center Project is proposed to be built with the province not spending a dime. In exchange, MTD will lease the spaces to interested national government offices and commercial firms.

Ownership of the government building will be transferred to the provincial government of Bataan after 30 years while other buildings, such as the commercial spaces, will also be handed over after 50 years.The proposal sets to develop 44,436 square meters of the Capitol compound in two years as MTD undertakes the funding, design, construction, operation and maintenance of the center.

During a consultation with national government agencies (NGAs) yesterday, provincial directors voiced their support for the project which seeks to gather all public offices in one building to streamline services.“The project is advantageous to all concerned—the employees, clients and other people. They will be getting all they need in one place,” said Department of Education-Bataan head Dr. Tarcila Javier.

Also, Garcia disclosed that he wants a unified compound where every office can be reached on foot and there are no walls to divide establishments. “When you see university towns in other countries, there are no walls. It is open. I want a seamless compound that is walkable,” he said.

According to plan, NGAs and local government offices will be merged in the Bunker Building, and those of the same services will be clustered together. The governor explained that, for example, a certain floor will contain only justice-related offices like the Public Attorney’s Office, Provincial Legal Office and Integrated Bar of the Philippines.

“Imagine the synergy which can be created when offices alike are positioned together. Every process will be efficient and convenient when related offices and services are together,” Garcia said.

With the proposal, a five-level Bunker Building with basement and mezzanine will serve as the new Governor’s Office and other government offices. There will also be a 142-room business hotel, accentuated by a six-level business processing outsourcing building, and two four-level BPO buildings.