Thursday, July 10, 2008
By Ernie N. Olson Jr.
THE special committee chaired by Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr. recently disclosed the terms of reference in developing Dominican Hill as a heritage hill and nature park in Baguio.
The construction of a Heritage Hotel will involve the restoration of the old building and maintaining its façade into a functional income-generating tourism facility not exceeding a vertical height of three storeys, the same committee said.
"The overall concept of development proposed for the area will be a low-density and nature-based approach, to showcase an urban nature park which integrates the rehabilitation of a historical landmark in the city," Bautista pointed out.
He said the development will showcase 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," the mayor explained.
He said the project will 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, 14,000 sq. m.
Before a proponent for the project is selected, it must be duly registered with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC); 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, operations and management.
Once a proponent is selected for the project, the development-lease-operation and management (DLOM) agreement will 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; and must introduce a new tourism facility, product or service.
With Bautista in the technical working group were Vice Mayor Daniel Fariñas and Councilor Richard Cariño as co-chairmen and Engineer Antonio Bautista, Archbishop 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.
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