Saturday, July 19, 2008 Diplomat rehabilitation up for bid
THE rehabilitation and operation of the former Diplomat Hotel on Dominican Hill may already be bid out to interested developers, now that the terms of reference for its use has been finalized.
The terms of reference in developing Dominican Hill as a heritage hill and nature park in Baguio was recently bared by the special technical working group chaired by Baguio Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr.
The special technical working group was created after Bautista issued Administrative Order (AO) 35-2008 last March 14.
The terms of reference was based on a contract of lease between the City Government of Marikina and the owner-proprietor of Cafe Kapitan Restaurant, who has converted the former Kapitan May Elementary School into a cultural center and "a respectable and decent restaurant to enliven the place at all times and to serve as a convergent point where people can interact and promote the cultural heritage of Marikina."
Now called The Galleria, it covers the left side of the first floor of the Sentrong Pangkultura ng Marikina building and was authorized to be bid out for operation by the Café Kapitan Restaurant through the passage of Marikina City Council Resolution 16-2008.
Here in Baguio, Bautista said the construction of a Heritage Hotel on Dominican Hill should involve the restoration of the old building, while maintaining its façade, into a functional income-generating tourism facility not exceeding a vertical height of three storeys.
The former Diplomat Hotel, which used to be owned by the late faith healer Antonio Agpaoa, used to be a seminary and retreat house for Dominican priests in the earlier and middle part of the 20th century.
"The overall concept of development proposed for the area shall be a low-density and nature-based approach, to showcase an urban nature park that integrates the rehabilitation of a historical landmark in the city," Bautista pointed out.
He said the project shall showcase the sustainable development principles following a conservation-sensitive approach both from the infrastructure perspective and future environment physical developments.
"The design elements are conceived to make the area more valuable to humans and wildlife, promoting comfort, safety and pleasant sensory experiences for rest and relaxation," according to Bautista.
He said the project shall include a hotel covering an area of approximately 3,570 square meters (sq. m.), a tourism facility of at least 1,000 sq. m., a parking area of not less than 2,080 sq. m., greening and landscaping covering 11,572 sq. m. and slope management of 14,000 sq. m.
However, before a proponent for the project is selected, it must be duly registered with the Department of Trade and Industry, and the Securities and Exchange Commission; must possess a "sturdy capacity" to undertake the project; and must have a company track record exhibiting business undertakings of similar bearing in the field of property development, lease, operations, and management.
Once a proponent is selected for the project, the development-lease-operation and management (DLOM) agreement shall be not for more than 25 years; high-priority maintenance of the nature park must be in management to effectively sustain the preservation of the natural bounty of the area; the DLOM proponent must possess amenities comparable to that of a high-standard hotel facility in the aspect of clientele service and demand; must also be equipped with high-end equipment in the aspect of waste disposal and management, which shall promote minimum to zero collateral dent to the surrounding environs and to nature in general; must introduce a new tourism facility, product or service.
With Bautista in the technical working group that prepared the terms of reference for the development of Dominican Hill are Vice Mayor Daniel Fariñas and Councilor Richard Cariño as co-chairmen; and Engineer Antonio Bautista, Architect Josephine Chan, City Environment and Parks Management Officer Cordelia Lacsamana, City Accountant Antonio Tabin, City Legal Officer Melchor Carlos Rabanes and Baguio Tourism Council chairman Anthony de Leon as members. (ENO)
