Quezon City Reception House Explained

Quezon City Reception House
Former Names:Quezon City Executive House
Alternate Names:Boracay MansionA
Building Type:Residence and Office
Architectural Style:Mediterranean
Owner:Local Government Unit of Quezon City
Address:100 11th Street, Mariana, Quezon City
Location Town:Quezon City
Location Country:Philippines
Coordinates:14.6228°N 121.0332°W
Completion Date:2016
Floor Count:2
Main Contractor:Marigold Development Corp.

The Quezon City Reception House is a reception house built and owned by the government of Quezon City to accommodate visiting dignitaries. It was built on the lot of the uncompleted and controversial Boracay Mansion. It was previously occupied by the Vice President of the Philippines from 2016 to 2022.

History

Quezon City Executive House

Originally named as the "Quezon City Executive House"[1] meant to serve as an official residence of the Mayor of Quezon City and host foreign dignitaries and other guests of the local government, work on the property formally broke ground on April 5, 2013, and covered two stages.

With a budget of for the first phase, initial works on new structural foundations started on March 1 and was expected to be accomplished by August 28, 2013. The total budget allotted for the project was at least . The executive residence structure occupies only 900sqm of the almost 7200sp=usNaNsp=us property[2] and includes five bedrooms, four of which includes a full bath with a bathtub.[3] The building's ground floor features three conference rooms, an adjacent facility with 8 office spaces for transient staff, and a museum of Quezon City's history.[4]

As the Philippine Vice President residence

Then Vice President-elect Leni Robredo eyed the property as the new official seat of the Vice President; Robredo deems the house as a simpler alternative to the previous workplace of the Vice President, the Coconut Palace, which has proven to be expensive to maintain.[5] [6] Robredo's inauguration was held at the mansion.

In June 2016, after getting wind of then Vice President-elect Leni Robredo's search for a new official seat for the Vice President of the Philippines, Joy Belmonte, then-vice mayor of Quezon City, approached the transition team of Robredo and offered the Quezon City Reception House for Robredo's consideration.[7] [8] After an initial misunderstanding concerning then City Administrator Aldrin Cuña's press statement regarding the mayor's supposed disagreement,[7] then-Mayor Herbert Bautista in a press conference at the Reception House denied being against Belmonte's offer and stated that his office would find it an honor to host the Office of the Vice President.[9]

Robredo's chief of staff, Undersecretary Boyet Dy, clarified to the media that the Office of the Vice President was to still occupy its offices at the Coconut Palace and the Philippine National Bank Financial Center in Pasay until the expiration of the existing contract.[10] By June 18, works by contractor Marigold Development Corporation in preparation for the Vice President's use are 80 percent complete.[1] However, the Mayor's Office in the Reception House would already be made available for Robredo's use as early as July 1.[11]

Robredo's successor, Sara Duterte, temporarily held office at the Quezon City Reception House.[12] [13] In July 2022, she later moved the seat of the Office of the Vice President to Cybergate Plaza in Mandaluyong, which is closer to the headquarters of the Department of Education in Pasig of which she also holds office as its secretary.[14] [15] Duterte plans to establish a permanent structure for the post, as previous vice presidents have only held office in temporary locations.[16]

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Sauler. Erika. Leni 'feels at home' but 'Bistek' unhappy. 16 November 2016. Philippine Daily Inquirer. 18 June 2016.
  2. News: Mateo. Janvic. Reception house to replace 'Boracay Mansion'. 16 November 2016. The Philippine Star. 5 April 2013.
  3. News: Cupin. Bea. Where Vice President Robredo will hold office. 16 November 2016. Rappler. 20 June 2016.
  4. Web site: Robredo to hold office at QC Reception House. Julliane Love De. Jesus. newsinfo.inquirer.net. 14 June 2016 .
  5. Web site: WATCH | Robredo may hold office at 'Boracay Mansion' in Quezon City . interaksyon.com . 13 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160615114445/http://interaksyon.com/article/129039/watch--robredo-may-hold-office-at-boracay-mansion-in-quezon-city . 15 June 2016 . dead.
  6. Web site: Leni mulls holding office at Boracay mansion. philstar.com.
  7. Web site: Vice mayor denies Bautista unhappy Robredo will hold office in QC. Nestor. Corrales. newsinfo.inquirer.net. 18 June 2016 .
  8. Web site: QC execs tangle over Leni's choice of Boracay Mansion. Erika. Sauler. newsinfo.inquirer.net. 20 June 2016 .
  9. Web site: Unhappy? Bautista says 'honor for QC' to host Robredo's office. Bea. Cupin. Rappler. 20 June 2016 .
  10. Web site: 'Boracay Mansion' in QC eyed as Leni's office. GMA News Online.
  11. Web site: Quezon City firms up lease for Leni's office | Metro, News, the Philippine Star | philstar.com . www.philstar.com:8080 . 13 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160827043956/http://www.philstar.com:8080/metro/2016/06/21/1594992/quezon-city-firms-lease-lenis-office . 27 August 2016 . dead.
  12. Web site: Mendoza . John Eric . 2022-06-18 . Sara Duterte to hold office at Quezon City Reception House . 2022-06-20 . INQUIRER.net . en.
  13. News: July 9, 2022 . OVP 'preparing to move' to Mandaluyong - spox . GMA News . July 11, 2022.
  14. News: Sara Duterte to transfer OVP to Mandaluyong, says source . GMA News . July 6, 2022 . July 11, 2022.
  15. News: Sara Duterte names staff in OVP, DepEd. Joyce. Balancio. 26 July 2022. 7 August 2022. ABS-CBN News. en.
  16. Web site: Cordero. Ted . Sara wants permanent address for OVP as her 'singular legacy' . June 18, 2022 . June 20, 2022 . GMA News Online . en.