THE Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will pursue its plans for the Baguio Convention Center.
DPWH Regional Director Tiborcio Canlas is standing by the plans made by the department for the rehabilitation of the convention center.
He said work will proceed as planned but the project will not be finished by next month as originally targeted.
Canlas said the mezzanine floor pushed by the city cannot be accommodated as the BCC structure cannot support the planned addition of another floor. He also nixed the need for an elevator and escalator.
The DPWH official said the seating capacity of the BCC has been increased and will be able to accommodate at least 1,300 with the DPWH plans.
Canlas likewise pointed to the damage wrought by treasure hunter Eliseo Cabusao on the convention center and said no communication has been made by Cabusao since an initial meeting months ago, when he was informed of the damage.
He added that the DPWH has asked Cabusao to repair what was damaged. But Cabusao has allegedly ignored them.
Canlas said they may have to repair the damage themselves provided the Commission on Audit will allow the repairs as it is not part of the rehabilitation project being undertaken by the department.
Councilor Mylen Yaranon earlier proposed and was given permission to hold a committee hearing on November 14 at the city hall on the rehabilitation project.
Mayor Mauricio Domogan has also asked to compare rehabilitation plans presented separately by the technical working group (TWG) and the DPWH.
Domogan said the DPWH must be able to justify the revisions made by their team as opposed to the approved plans made by the nine-member TWG created by the City Government.
If the plans drawn up by the TWG are proven to be flawed and not feasible, the City Government will use the revised plans of DPWH as guide in the rehabilitation of the convention center.