May 22, 2008

 

 

U.S. Embassy to Modernize Facilities, Improve Services

 

 

 

            The Embassy of the United States is pleased to announce commencement of a major construction and modernization project taking place at the Chancery Compound and Seafront Compound, both located on Roxas Boulevard, in Manila. 

 

            Better service, greater convenience: The U.S. Embassy will be modernizing and expanding facilities through a major project expected to run until 2012.  On the Chancery compound, the Chancery building, an historic landmark, will remain unaffected by construction.  A new Consular public services building will be built, which will feature large, indoor waiting areas for the public, and the number of service windows for passport and other applications will be expanded from 66 to 98.   This will make the process of acquiring visas and other documents more efficient, faster, and more pleasant for the public.  There will also be more windows for the processing and delivery of services to American citizens and Filipino citizens who qualify for Veterans Administration and Social Security Administration benefits.  Additionally, larger offices and a larger, more modern medical clinic for veterans will be constructed on the Seafront Compound.     

 

            Filipino firm winner of contract in international competition: This $100 million construction project has been awarded to the Filipino firm Makati Development Corporation (MDC), which beat numerous large international firms in an open, worldwide competition that featured a competitive bidding process and a rigorous evaluation system. 

 

            Minimizing inconveniences: Work on this major project has already begun and is expected to be fully completed in 2012. Embassy and MDC staff are working with local authorities to minimize traffic and other potential disruptions, but the public should expect limited, episodic construction-related traffic delays at various times in the immediate vicinity of the U.S. Embassy.

 

            This major project, one of the largest undertaken by the U.S. Department of State this year, is part of the U.S. Embassy’s commitment to improving services for the public and reinforcing the close ties between the United States and the Republic of the Philippines.  The U.S. Embassy will organize media briefings as the project goes forward in order to answer questions about the design of the new buildings and the bidding and construction process.  In the meantime, questions can be directed to the U.S. Embassy press office at 02-301-2452.

 

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