By Ernie B. Esconde
BALANGA CITY, Bataan, (PNA) –A P320-million new Bataan terminal complex will soon rise some meters away from the heart of this component city.
This, after the city government and the provincial government of Bataan under the public private partnership (PPP) venture with the LKY Development Corporation held Friday the groundbreaking and capsule-laying that signaled the construction of the terminal complex.
“We will invest here more than P300 million to construct a three-storey building that will have a hotel, convention center, commercial center and mall,” said Wilbert Lee, president of LKY Development Corporation.
“Passenger buses, mini-buses, jeepneys and tricycles that use the former Bataan transport terminal will all be accommodated in the new terminal complex,” he said.
LKY is engaged in the construction and operation of hotels, terminals and community malls like in Legaspi City, Bacolod City and Malate, Manila.
Construction will start after a month and to be finished in 18 months.
Lee said that per request of former governor and now Bataan 2nd District Rep. Enrique Garcia, all workers in the construction and operation phases will come from the province.
On the other hand, Governor Albert Garcia said the province’s share in the PPP are the land and the existing structure.
“We do not have the competence to run and fund it. That’s why we entered it under PPP scheme because our partner investor have enough funds and capacity to run it,” the former congressman and son of the elder Garcia said.
LKY will operate the terminal complex under a 25-year lease agreement.
Revenues will come from taxes and rentals and will mean employment generation for Bataan residents.
“This will serve as model in every towns of the province under the PPP scheme that will be more efficient, more sustainable because the partner has enough funds and know-how,” the governor said.
“The terminal of buses, mini-buses and tricycles and waiting area of the passengers is just like an airport terminal because it will be beautiful, orderly, air-conditioned and have added attractions,” Balanga City Mayor Jose Enrique Garcia III said.
The mayor, another son of the new congressman, said the convention center will have a sitting capacity for 5,000 people.
Lee and LKY chief architect William Lee presented a perspective of the new Bataan terminal complex as gift on the 73rd birthday Friday of the elder Garcia.
The city mayor and the governor acknowledged that the new terminal complex was a brainchild of their father.