Mayor Benjamin Magalong issued Executive Order 77, s. 2023 designating members of the Project Implementation Team of the Dominican Heritage Hill Conservation Management Plan with a P15 million funding support from the National Commission for Culture and Arts (NCCA).
The city and the NCCA forged a memorandum of agreement last year to redevelop the historic Dominican Retreat Center into a creative hub that showcases rich cultural heritage and art practices of Baguio.
The nine-man team will be led by Arch. Donna Tabangin of the City Planning, Development, and Sustainability Office (CPDSO) with Ferdinand John Balanag of the Creative Baguio City Council (CBCC) as co-lead.
Team members include Councilor Vladimir Cayabas, chairperson of the city council committee on education, culture, and historical research; and Councilor Lilia Fariñas, chairperson of the city council committee on tourism, special events, parks and playgrounds.
Other members are CBCC chair Raymundo Rovillos, City Administrator Bonifacio dela Peña; City Engineer Edgar Victorio Olpindo; City Architect Johny Degay and Josefino Balatero of the CBCC.
The mayor also named 10 consultants of the project implementation team, namely City Budget Officer Leticia Clemente; City Environment and Parks Management Officer Rhenan Diwas; Supervising Tourism Operations Officer Aloysius Mapalo; Department of Tourism Regional Director Jovita Ganongan; Department of Trade and Industry Provincial Director Samuel Gallardo; University of the Philippines Baguio Chancellor Corazon Abansi; Saint Louis University President Gilbert Sales; University of the Cordilleras President Nancy Flores; University of Baguio President Javier Herminio Bautista; and CBCC member Lynette Carantes-Bibal.
The CPDSO also serves as the secretariat of the team in the preparation of the engineering study and conservation management plan of the Dominican Hill Heritage Site. It will also ensure the terms of reference are complied by the contractor to whom the project is awarded.
The team is also tasked to conduct site inspections and benchmarking activities at the NCCA, University of Santo Tomas, National Historical Commission of the Philippines, and National Museum among other sites as necessary.
The team shall also conduct public consultations with the concerned barangay and other stakeholders and coordinate with the NCCA regarding the implementation monitoring and assessment.
All expenses necessary and incidental to the implementation of the operation of the project shall be charged against the P15M fund of the NCCA, the EO stated. – Jessa Mardy P. Samidan
