PNoy, Sereno lead groundbreaking of new SC Complex in BGC

MANILA, Philippines - President Benigno Aquino III on Friday led the groundbreaking ceremony of the new Supreme Court (SC) Complex in Bonifacio Global City (BGC), Taguig.

Aquino, Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno and the other justices of the high court also witnessed the signing of the contract to sell between the SC and the Bases and Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) for the future SC site.

Assisted by Sereno and the justices, Aquino led the groundbreaking ceremony through the time capsule laying at the 21,000-square meter lot in BGC on which the SC's state-of-the-art building will rise.

The property is located at the former Philippine Army Security Escort Group Area.

Sereno also presented to Aquino the SC Marker that was placed at the groundbreaking site to signal the start of the construction of the new building.

Aquino and Sereno delivered speeches while Associate Justice Estela Perlas-Bernabe held a briefing on the plans for the new SC complex.

After securing the needed budget for the property, Sereno said in July that the SC's transfer to the BGC site will materialize in 2019.

"A modern construction timetable will enable us to have a building in three to four years, assuming there is no major hitch. Hopefully in about four years or an allowance of up to five years, we will have our own building," she said.

The SC building along Padre Faura street in Manila belongs to the University of the Philippines.

"The high court should have a building that is modern, disaster resilient, technology enabled, and that will stand as the symbol of the Filipino sense of justice,” Sereno said.

The new SC Complex, amounting to P1.28 billion, is payable within 10 years, with an annual amortization of P128 million.