THE state-of-the-art Guimaras Governance Center (GGC) is truly a sight to behold.
This three-storey edifice is inspired by a neoclassical architecture and influenced by the White House, the United States Capitol, and the Buckingham Palace.
Eyed to be operational within this year, the GGC will replace the 50-year-old provincial capitol in the island province’s capital town of Jordan.
The construction of the P300-million GGC commenced on February 2019 but was temporarily halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Former governor Samuel T. Gumarin, who spearheaded the conceptualization of the project, said the new government center will improve the image and quality of public services in the island province.
For his part, the province’s Lone District Congresswoman Ma. Lucille L. Nava considered GGC as a major breakthrough that will remarkably change the landscape of Guimaras.
Its construction is the realization of a long-time dream to refurbish the provincial capitol structure, she said.
The new government center’s ground floor would house frontline service offices for the convenience of the transacting public such as the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office and Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, among others.
The second floor would host the offices of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan while the third floor would be for the Office of the Governor and others.
Vice Gov. John Edward Gando added that the new capitol would have an elevator.
At present, provincial capitol’s temporary offices are scattered around the capitol compound.
The vice governor underscored that the eventual realization of the new governance center simply connotes that nothing is impossible when government officials unite, aiming for a more progressive Guimaras.
Green Architecture
Moreover, green architecture will be applied to the three-storey structure, in tune with the province’s drive to protect the environment.
Gumarin previously said that an open garden inside the structure will improve the air quality as well as the landscape and hardscape.
Grey water and rain water catchment system will be installed to the building to recycle water for irrigation or toilet flushing, gardening and will help minimize flooding in the capitol area and surrounding residential areas. The GGC will also have an energy-efficient design with the provision of wide windows and entrances, with natural daylight design thereby reducing the building’s electricity needs.
Guimaras was a sub-province of Iloilo until it was made an independent province on May 22, 1992. The province was originally composed of three municipalities: Buenavista, Jordan and Nueva Valencia.
In 1995, through Republic Act No. 7896 and Republic Act No. 7897, the municipalities of Sibunag and San Lorenzo were created. The two new municipalities officially acquired their municipal status after the May 8, 1995 plebiscite held simultaneously with the local election./PN
