ILOILO City's bids and awards committee (BAC) has slated a proposed schedule of procurement activities for the construction of P455-million new City Hall building fronting Plaza Libertad in the city.

City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas said the BAC also slated a total of 510 days construction period of the seven-storey edifice that will become the seat of the local government.

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BAC member Giovanni Miraflores said the proposed construction would be advertised in a national newspaper on November 15-23, 2009 after which a pre-bid conference will be held on November 24. The deadline for the submission of bids will be on December 7, while the opening of bids will be on December 8.

The issuance of a notice of award to the winning bidder will be on December 18 and the contract drafting and signing will be on December 22. The issuance of notice to proceed will be on December 23.

Miraflores said that according to schedule, the most probable date for the groundbreaking ceremony would be before the end of 2009. This will also signal the start of construction at the more than 2,000 square meter lot, site of the demolished old city hall.

Miraflores said the bidding is open to all local contractors and nationally based contractors, including those with international partners, to participate in the construction of the building.

The new City Hall design that will house all City Government offices was already completed by the Coscolluela and Associates, architect of several big buildings in the city, including the Iloilo provincial capitol and the Iloilo Hall of Justice.

Treñas said the amount for the construction was facilitated with the Land Bank of the Philippines at an annual interest of seven percent. The amount comes in two tranches: first, P300 million, and the additional P105 million to complete the building.

The City Hall design incorporates the design of five heritage buildings in the city, such as the façade of the University of the Philippines Visayas, Masonic Temple, the old city hall and the Iloilo Customs House.