Bagong Senado Is Changing the Way Govt Offices Are Made

A top view of the building's progress as of January 2023. PHOTO BY Department of Public Works and Highways

(SPOT.ph)The Senate is preparing to relocate to its new home. Yes, the much-buzzed about Bagong Senado in Bonifacio Global City is expected to be completed by the end of 2024.

The Senate has been operating from the GSIS Building in Pasay City since 1997, incurring a hefty annual rent of P110,000,000. They started to search for a more permanent location in 2012 that can support the legislative body's functional requirements while also allowing for more convenient public access.

This led to the development of Bagong Senado—an apt name in light of the recent leadership change with Francis "Chiz" Escudero now at the helm.

However, Escudero said they won't be occupying the building until May 2025—and could even be potentially delayed to May 2027—to align with the legislative calendar without disrupting crucial workflow.

"Ang pinakamagandang panahon ng paglipat ay 'pag nag-adjourn ang Senado sine die so ang ta-target-in namin paglipat marahil ay 2025 sine die. Kung 'di aabot doon, 2026 sine die. Kung 'di aabot doon, 2027 sine die. At least may dalawang buwan kami para pormal na maglipat at mag-ayos para pag-resume mas smooth yung takbo ng trabaho," Escudero was quoted as saying on May 27.

This is because both the Senate and the House of Representatives end sessions sine die (adjourned without a date for resumption) in the third week of May, pausing legislative activities for nearly two months. The break lasts until the fourth Monday of July, when the President delivers the State of the Nation Address (SONA) under Article VI, Section 15 of the 1987 Constitution.

This is what the new Senate building will look like

Built from the ground up, the project started with the help of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) in acquiringa nearly two-hectare plot in the new expansion area of BGC. Official construction started in 2019, with a total of P8.9 billion in taxpayer money poured into this structure.

Bagong Senado easily stands out among other buildings in Taguig, with Filipino cultural symbols serving as inspiration for the structure. The building is the product of a competitive selection process won by infrastructure consulting firm AECOM, who is also behind other significant projects like New Clark City and the North-South Commuter Railway.

The building's layout features four office towers that symbolize key democratic values—justice, equality, freedom, and representation—in the shape of the sun's rays on the Filipino flag. Each tower will have 11 floor with entrances, plazas, and a landscaped area strategically placed between. There will also be a minimum of 1,200 parking spaces.

Formal gathering places like the Session Hall and Committee Rooms are expected, but it will also feature a gym, museum, library, auditorium, and a food court. Some of these facilities will be open to the public.

The building incorporates green terraces inspired by the Banaue Rice Terraces to provide a relaxing balance. This allows guests to have access to natural greenery without having to step outside.

The Barong Tagalog is another notable design element—AECOM's novel attempt to combat the heat as it makes use of balconies, overhangs, and a facade to create a cooler indoor environment that can create also visually striking light patterns.

"Ideas of sustainability were integrated at an early design stage, responding to the tropical climate in Philippines...The sun baffles are imbued with a perforated pattern that echoes the Barong Tagalog stitching patterns, creating sophisticated light and shadow effects on the facade," AECOM wrote in its Bagong Senado entry to the MUSE Design Awards.

It is at the ground level where you can find patterns that resemble the traditional Filipino embroidery, while a raised plaza on the second floor offers a public space for some fresh air. Meanwhile, the back plaza of the building will host the Philippine flag.

Everything was designed with sustainability in mind, too, with the building achieving a four-star rating notification in its first evaluation of BERDE Green building rating system by the Philippine Green Building Council in March. The Senate is reportedly targeting a five-star rating in the next evaluation.

In addition, the four towers are expected to consume 30% to 50% less energy than standard buildings as per AECOM.

The P8.9-billion price tag raised eyebrows when details were first publicized, with questions on whether this spending on a luxury building for a few government officials is justifiable when there are more pressing economic concerns in the country.

"That one is already in motion. If you stop that, you’ll [have more problems]," Senator Juan "Sonny" Angara was quoted as saying in defense of the cost. "Instead of renting out, you have your own…Over time, that investment will pay for itself. So, I think that can be justified on those grounds."

In 2021, former President Rodrigo Duterte also pointed out that a rather controversial contractor was involved in the construction for the new building. The contract was awarded to Hilmarc’s Construction Corporation, the same company behind the allegedly overpriced P2.3-billion Makati City Hall Building II and the P700-million Iloilo Convention Center.

To this, Senator Panfilo Lacson responded by clarifying that the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) was responsible for the bidding and contractual processes, suggesting that any issues about the project’s management should be directed towards DPWH rather than the Senate.

Nothing came out of that inquiry that we know of, but here's to hoping that the legislative processes and public engagements that will take place in Bagong Senado in the years to come is a worthy investment of taxpayer funds.