[ manilastandardtoday.com ] February 11, 2009
The Rizal Provincial Capitol is unveiling next month its new building in Antipolo City after holding out for 37 years in Pasig City which has become a component of Metro Manila along with 16 localities that make up much of the national capital region.
Gov. Casimiro Ynares III welcomes the move to higher ground with its refreshing countrified atmosphere.
“Finally we have a new capitol in a place that is geographically at the center of Rizal, that is Antipolo, which makes it the most ideal place for a seat of provincial governance,” he said.
On the timetable, Ynares is set to inaugurate the building on March 4.
“Being at the center makes it convenient for local folks and investors to transact business without worrying much of an old burden they used to encounter including distance, transportation expenses, traffic and lost man-hours.”
The new capitol, an 8,200-square-meter Renaissance-inspired structure, sits on the 5-hectare Ynares Center, overlooking the province and sections of the metropolis.
Codes Consultant Inc. conceived the design with Persan Construction Co. Inc. serving as contractor.
Provincial engineer Luisito Monsod says the building takes after late 19th century public architecture, typified by state capitals adopting the style of ancient Greek and Roman edifices.
Sixty-four ionic columns 24 feet high give the structure its massive look, enhanced by a dome.
“The most critical consideration is the greenery in the city,” Ynares said.
Antipolo shares the natural setting of the Sierra Madre mountain range at its foothills, and its cool climate.
“The provincial government along with other government agencies and the private sector is sustaining efforts toward environment protection,” he said, noting the surrounding watershed area.
The power bill down Pasig stood at P655,000 monthly, which building authorities plan to reduce by 5 percent in Antipolo through conservation measures. Gigi Muñoz David
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