A state-of-the-art building of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Iloilo will soon rise in the bustling Iloilo Business Park (IBP) in Mandurriao, Iloilo City.
Incoming BSP Governor Felipe Medalla led the capsule laying and groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the new BSP Iloilo branch building on Friday, June 17, 2022.
The ceremony was also attended by other VIPs such as outgoing tourism secretary and incoming BSP Deputy Governor Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, business tycoon Andrew Tan of Megaworld Corporation, deputy governors of BSP, and local chief executives Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas and Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. among others.
From its current location in Solis St. in City Proper, the BSP Iloilo branch will move to its new location at the IBP.
The state-of-the-art building features a facade with a cubic sunscreen incorporating the dynamic dots branding over the lobby’s circular curtain wall.
The design also utilizes the natural lighting for the interior lobby while minimizing possible heat gain. Meanwhile, the cube complements the exterior walls and windows of the main building which are arranged in staggered and repetitive patterns.
According to Rosabel Guerrero, BSP Managing Director Regional Operations, the construction will take around 18 to 24 months.
“It will take almost 18 to 24 months. We are about to award the contract for the construction we already have the architectural design. In two years, we hope to hold our operations here in Megaworld,” she said on Friday.
Guerrero added that the building will follow the standards of their regional offices and branches.
In choosing the new location, Guerrero said they considered “accessibility” of the airports and seaports as well as the stakeholders.
“When we do our site location, we always take into consideration yung accessibility, it should be accessible to our stakeholder. Yung access to the airports, seaports, important for our branch operations. Transport of currency is very important so dapat my access tayo sa airports at seaports,” she explained.
Meanwhile, Medalla said he is also happy with the new location of BSP Iloilo, highlighting that it fits the “new economy”.
“Moving from an old branch to the new one, it’s a much better place. It fits the new economy. We will be more efficient when we go there. I’m very happy with this location,” he said.
The incoming BSP governor also commended the “huge progress” in both the city and province of Iloilo. He noted that Iloilo now is very different when he first came here in 1967.
“Success is knowing what not to change. Iloilo, both the city and province, that is the case. My old memories of what it looked like when I was 17 years old, it’s a very huge progress. Look around the very big names. It’s very different from what I saw in 1967 and 1998. BSP should also learn from it,” he added.
Treñas welcomed the new development of the new BSP building while assuring that the area will be safe and secure.
“Andrew Tan donated lots which will be used for the construction of police stations and fire stations in Megaworld. So, you will be safe here. BSP will be safe here because we will have police to secure the safety of the area 24/7,” he said. (DG).
