BALANGA City – The city government of Balanga and the provincial government of Bataan under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) venture with the LKY Development Corp. on Friday held the groundbreaking and capsule- laying that signaled the construction of the P320-million New Bataan Terminal complex some meters away from the heart of the component city.
“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 Corp. 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 fi nished in 18 months. Lee said that per request of former Gov. Enrique Garcia, now congressman of Bataan’s second district, all workers in the construction and operation phases will come from the province.
Gov. Albert Garcia said that the province has for its share in the PPP, the land and the existing structure. “Wala tayong competence to run and fund it kaya under PPP scheme natin ipinasok sapagka’t may sapat na pondo at kakayahan ang ating partner na investor,” 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 Public Private Partnership scheme that will be more effi cient, more sustainable because the partner has enough funds and know-how,” the new governor said.
“Ang paradahan ng mga buses, mini-buses at tricycles at ang hintayan ng mga pasahero ay parang isang airport terminal dahil maganda, maayos at malamig at may added attractions pa,” 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.
