BCDA wants to expand Taguig comm’l area

MANILA, Philippines - The Bases Conversion and Development Authority’s (BCDA) wholly-owned subsidiary BCDA Management and Holdings Inc. (BMHI) plans to expand the Pamayanang Diego Silang (PDS) commercial strip along C-5 road in Taguig City by bidding the lease of 50 commercial stalls there next year.

BMHI general manager Rafael Llave said in a statement yesterday the firm plans to build and lease out in 2014 some 50 additional commercial stalls in addition to the existing 64 stalls in the PDS commercial center located along C-5.

“The businesses that will be put up in the additional stalls will augur well to serve the 5,000 residents of the PDS Housing Project as well as the residents of the nearby communities,” he said.

The 50 additional stalls will measure 25-square meters (sqm) each and will be housed in a two-storey building.

Llave noted that once the stalls are in place, PDS residents are encouraged to lease the stalls and put up their own businesses as part of BMHI’s livelihood program.

Among the businesses that are currently available in the existing commercial center are internet cafes, food stalls, drug stores, laundry shop, dental clinic, and bayad centers.

Apart from the lease of 50 stalls, Llave said another project planned for next year is the expansion of its one-storey corporate center building The BMHI Corporate Center which covers a 3,000-sqm area within the PDS commercial strip.

The plan involves expanding the corporate center into a three to five-storey building.

The expansion of the corporate building would enable BMHI to generate additional revenues through short and long-term lease.

“We envision the first floor to accommodate commercial establishments like banks and major franchise stores, while the remaining floors will cater to corporate offices including the BMHI,” Llave said.

He said the bidding for the two projects would be conducted after the Terms of Reference for each have been finalized.

Created in 1995 pursuant to the provisions of Republic Act No. 7227 or the BCDA Act and the Corporation Code of the Philippines, BMHI initially focused its technical support services exclusively to the BCDA.

While it principally caters to the requirements of BCDA, it has started to provide services to other customers last year.