‘World-class, iconic’ Senate building by 2020 eyed

If all things go as planned, the Senate will move to a new “world-class” and “iconic” building by 2020, Senator Panfilo Lacson said Thursday.

“It’s about time we should transfer. Kasi pag nagiimbita kami ng parliamentarians from other countries nakakahiya rin tapos maamoy ang kubeta natin dito,” Lacson, chairman of the Senate accounts committee, said.

“Tapos pag may nagbibisita roon nagpi-picture taking kami halimbawa sa [National] Diet sa Japan at Taiwan parliament, talagang nakakabawas ng dignity na parang imbitahin ba natin ito sa Senate? Di naman sa nakakahiya pero tayo lang yata ang Senado na umuupa. Dapat may sariling building,” he said.

The rent paid to use part of the Government Services Insurance System (GSIS) building amounts to P127 million to P129 million annually, according to Lacson.

Lacson said he wants the new Senate building to immediately be equated to the Congress of the Philippines as the Eiffel Tower is to Paris, and the Sydney Opera House to Australia.

“We’re planning to launch a competition among the top architects gagawa ng conceptual design in the whole world. World-class, iconic talaga,” he said.

Lacson said most of the Senate employees prefer that the Senate transfer from Pasay City to Bonifacio Global City in Taguig, rather than Antipolo.

The city government of Antipolo, he said, recently offered to donate 25 hectares of land, but the development could likely take a longer time than the possible site presented by the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) in Taguig.

“Kasi raw land ang sa Antipolo, gaano katagal yan made-develop? Remember, kailangan ng power lines, water lines, utilities, tapos ide-develop pa infrastructure so 'yan tinitingnan ngayon, dine-deliberate,” Lacson said.

The discussion, he said, would also include the proposal of the House of Representatives, which sits in Batasan Complex in Quezon City, to co-locate.

“Baka pwede kami makisukob doon, ang tatayo naman Congress of the Philippines, di naman Senate o House. Baka pwedeng makatipid ang Senate at maki-angkas kami sa whatever proceeds mage-generate by the sale ng Batasan complex,” he said. — BM, GMA News