The Senate conducted the topping-off ceremony for the New Senate Building in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City recently.
The ceremony was led by Senate President Migz Zubiri, Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda, Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva, and Senators Nancy Binay, Cynthia Villar, JV Ejercito, Ronald Dela Rosa, and Bong Go.
Also present were former Senate President Tito Sotto and former Senator Ralph Recto.
Other guests included Department of Public Works and Highways Sec. Manuel Bonoan, Bases Conversion and Development Authority Chairman Delfin Lorenzana, and Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano.
Binay said that with the topping-off, the Senate is on target to open for partial operations by July 2024.
“May instruction kasi si Senate President Zubiri to conduct the opening of Session next year sa Bagong Senado.”
“May instruction kasi si Senate President Zubiri to conduct the opening of Session next year sa Bagong Senado,” the veteran legislator said.
“Ang topping-off ay isang tradition na ginagawa para gunitain ang pagkumpleto sa structural frame ng isang building sa pamamagitan ng pagkabit ng huling structural beam nito,” the seasoned lawmaker added.
“In the face of climate change the government should walk the talk in promoting the use of sustainable structures.”
The NSB aims to be one of the first green building- certified government facilities under Building for Ecologically Responsive Design Excellence (BERDE) Program.
“In the face of climate change the government should walk the talk in promoting the use of sustainable structures,” the lady senator stressed.
She said that the NSB integrates sustainable features such as energy-efficient systems, water conservation measures, and the use of eco-friendly materials. It would also consume between 30 to 50 percent less energy than standard buildings.
Its construction was green-lit by the 17th Congress in 2017 after former Sen. Ping Lacson, the then-chair of the Committee on Accounts, in 2016 called for the need to relocate to a new site due to increasing space limitations and the need for enhanced facilities.
