The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has started transferring office materials and equipment to its new state-of-the-art and environment-friendly head office building in Pasig City. President Duterte on Monday led the inauguration of the 20-story office building located in Barangay Ugong, marking a historic milestone for the agency.
The MMDA will start operating in the new building by July in time for the incoming administration of presumptive President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
MMDA chair Romando Artes said the new headquarters of the agency was a manifestation of its commitment to strengthen and provide better services to Metro Manilans. “We started with an idea, and now we stand in the actual building of our lifetime dream – a state-of-the-art government facility, catering to the needs of our employees as well as the clients and partners of Metro Manila. We now have a safe, structurally sound, sustainable, and productive headquarters we can call home,” Artes said.
The new building features facilities that would accommodate the different services and functions of the agency. It also has special features such as centralized data system, upgraded Metrobase Operations Center, and MMDA Corporate Auditorium.
“With this new MMDA head office building, we intend to provide convenience to our stakeholders and ensure effective delivery of our services,” Artes said.
The structure, with roof deck and helipad, will be certified by the Building for Ecologically Responsive Design Excellence (BERDE) with a one-star accreditation. BERDE is a tool to assess, measure, monitor, and certify performance of green building projects.
The concept of the building started during the time of the late chairman Danilo Lim in 2018, through the collaboration with the United Architects of the Philippines (UAP)-Makati Chapter, by holding a national design competition for the facility with the theme: “MMDA moving towards a sustainable, resilient, dynamic, and people-centered metropolis.”
In the same year, a partnership was forged between the MMDA and the Robinsons Land Corporation (RLC) for the construction of the office. The winning conceptual design by architect Daryl Van Abaygar, entitled “Solihiya Moderno” was used as an inspiration.
The “Solihiya Moderno” was influenced by the traditional home silhouette and “solihiya” weave pattern. The interlocking strands and fibers encapsulate the Bayanihan spirit of Filipinos which mirrors the aspirations of the MMDA as an instrument of collaboration for all Local Government Units (LGUs) of Metro Manila. The structure boasts of modern yet distinctly Filipino design.
Artes also expressed his gratitude to the RLC for being the agency’s partner in the actualization of the new MMDA head office.
Former agency chairmen, Metro Manila mayors, and agency officials attended the inauguration of the new building.
