Baguio Convention Center as economic enterprise eyed

The city government of Baguio is planning to turn the Baguio Convention Center into an economic enterprise.
City Administrator Bonifacio Dela Peña instructed Supervising Tourism Officer Alec Mapalo to prepare a manual of operations with the goal of increasing the amount of fees collected from use of the venue.
“We have standing issues on the redevelopment because the mayor does not like to sign the certificate of acceptance but we have to use the facility because we are losing revenue with the facility not being used,” Dela Peña said.
In his presentation, Mapalo said there is a need to update Ordinance 95 s. 1995 which dictates the rental rate of use of the BCC at P9,000 for a whole day use.
Mapalo said the city government has not been earning as much from renting out the BCC because of the minimal rates coupled with the waiving of fees for city-sponsored events.
In 2016, Mapalo said the city government lost P1.8 million of unrealized revenue for 87 events because of the waiving of fees.
Comparing the rates of other convention facilities outside Baguio, Mapalo said the estimate rental rate for the BCC stands at P56 per person for a whole day event compared to the P85 per person in other convention halls.
Mapalo suggested a gradual discount scheme for city-sponsored events instead of waiving fees.
Vice Mayor Faustino Olowan suggested to Mapalo to submit a list of proposed rates for the city council to study.
The newly refurbished BCC accommodate more than 2,000 persons. – Jessa Mardy Samidan