“Bagong Senado”: The Senate of the Philippines’ New Home
After a decade of planning, the Senate of the Philippines is finally relocating to its new permanent home upon the completion of the New Senate Building.
The Senate of the Philippines is eyeing to transfer to their new home in celebration of its hundred-year legacy. Known as “Bagong Senado” (New Senate), the building is set to be the Senate’s new official residence for the next 100 years.
In 2017, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian filed PS Resolution No. 293: “RESOLUTION CREATING AN AD HOC COMMITTEE TASKED TO CONDUCT A FEASIBILITY STUDY ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW SENATE BUILDING AND RELOCATION OF THE SENATE THERETO.” The august chamber has adopted and approved the transfer of the Senate to its new location at the Navy Village, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.
The New Senate is expected to be an iconic, green, and resilient building. The Senate Committee on Accounts will pursue the relocation and oversee the construction of the building.
Moreover, the Senate entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) to acquire a suitable site. The BCDA rolled a Conceptual Design Competition which was opened for technically-competent firms. Those who participated in the competition submitted their proposed design of the new Senate building.
AECOM to Design The New Senate Building
Forty companies participated in the Conceptual Design Competition, then it was narrowed down to five teams. In the end, the Senate Committee on Accounts and the BCDA picked AECOM’s conceptual design for the Senate’s permanent residence.
AECOM is a global urban planning firm committed to delivering a better world. According to the firm, the building will be a sleek, ultramodern complex with four interconnected buildings. These buildings are shaped like the rays of a sun with the session hall at the center.
The Senate Aims to Relocate in 2024
The newly elected Senate President, Senator Miguel Zubiri, said in an interview he hopes that the construction of the New Senate building will finish in 2024. In 2019, there was a groundbreaking event for the P8.9 billion infrastructure project. The construction was supposed to have been completed by 2021. The pandemic caused major delays in the construction.
Senator Zubiri wants to pay tribute to the senators who helped with the project. He wants the outgoing members of the 19th Congress to be able to visit the new building. That is why it’s vital to finish the project by the end of 2024.
In June 2022, the New Senate building had its “dedication ceremony” where Zubiri, together with former Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto, outgoing Senator Panfilo Lacson, and Senator Nancy Binay, led the symbolic lowering of the time capsule.
Currently, the Senate resides in the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) complex. The legislative body moved to its new building in 1997. It was designed by Filipino Architect Jorge Ramos also known for his other works, such as the Philippine Heart Center and Golden Mosque in Quiapo, Manila.
