The city government announced this week that it has partnered with an Oregon-based research and development company engaged mainly in water technology research to fund an ambitious plan to put up a high-rise tower and a convention facility they have conceptualized.
Rod Saucelo, flagship project manager of the city government, told Palawan News the company Langenburg Technologies has committed to finance the Princesa Tower project it earlier envisioned and a separate but newly-hatched proposal to build a hotel cum convention center in the Santa Lucia estate it owns.
The convention center project, dubbed Pawikan International Convention Center Arena-Resort Complex, was presented to the public last Monday during the City Hall’s flag raising ceremony.
Saucelo said the US-based company has committed to “finance” the two major projects at a still undetermined cost.
“Iyong kanilang group ay willing na i-finance ‘yong construction ng tower. Sila ang magfi-finance ng dalawang iconic projects ng city, ‘yong Princesa Tower at saka itong Pawikan International Convention Center. Sila ang magpro-provide ng finances para ma-construct ‘yong dalawang project ng city. Kukuha sila ng contractor, bahala na sila kung sino ang kukunin nila, pero ‘yong design na gagamitin nila is ‘yong design na, na ginawa ni Engr. [Rolando] Garcia. This is our initial discussions and sinasabi nila (Langenburg Technologies) na talagang desidido sila,” he said.
Langenburg Technologies is reportedly engaged among others “in planetary water restoration, education, and implementation of various Water and Power Technologies for everyday use that are environmentally safe.”
Saucelo said the Langenburg Technologies has a long-term plan to power up the whole Philippines using the technology.
2MW power plant
Saucelo said Langenburg Technologies will put up a power plant at the back of the New City Hall building that will generate 2 MW of electricity at a cost P2 lower than what the Palawan Electric Cooperative (PALECO) sells to its consumers.
He said the project will demonstrate the company’s technology of converting wastewater into energy and leverage this to supply power to the whole province.
He did not disclose specifics of any agreement reached between the city government and the foreign company on the matter.
“Iyong sa kanila ay wastewater o hindi kaya ay sea water ‘yon ang magiging feedstock para mag-generate ng electricity. Ang kanilang technology, kayang mag-generate ng wastewater or di kaya ay sea water, so ‘yon ang magiging pinaka-fuel. Ang plano, ang wastewater ng dalawang City Hall buildings, ‘yon ang gagamitin na fuel para mag-generate ng electricity. At habang ginagamit ‘yon na fuel, paglabas noon ay clean water na. Dito muna sa City Hall ang i-power up ninyo, tapos kapag naipakita ninyo na totoo ang technology na ‘yan madali na ‘yan ibenta sa PALECO para buong Palawan, technology niyo na ang gagamitin,” Saucelo said.
Gigantic and Ultra-Iconic
Saucelo described the Pawikan International Convention Center Arena-Resort Complex (PICCA-RC) as “gigantic and ultra-iconic”. He said it will be built in Barangay Sta. Lucia with an arena that can accommodate around 25,000-30,000 individuals.
“Ang goal talaga nito ay maging international tayo na convention center. Ito ‘yong magiging iconic landmark ng Pilipinas,” he said.
Saucelo said its “design is still in progress” and its budget has not been identified yet.
Engr. Rolando Garcia, the designer of the project, presented it on Monday during the flag ceremony at the City Hall.
He said the project will be comprised by a Mother Pawikan (sea turtle) which will be the main arena and six juveniles which will be five-storey luxury hotels.
“Ang mga presidente sa Asia [kapag mayroong] Asian Summit, mangangarap sila na magkaroon ng summit dito sa Pilipinas sa loob ng pawikan,” he said.
Garcia added that along with the arena will be a mall and a food center, and each of the luxury hotels will have 250 room accommodations.
“Ang ilalim nitong Mother Pawikan ay mall at the same time food center. Bawat isang anak [naman] ay 250 rooms na luxury hotel,” he said.
The grand structure, Garcia elaborated, will resemble a Mother Pawikan and its six juveniles behind her.
He said it will include a 600-meter boardwalk or sea-front park, covered beach, mall, food centers, yacht and cruise ship port, and hotels.
Dominic Notter, the representative of the Langenburg Technologies during the flag ceremony said they will build the structures entirely without pollution.
“This is an amazing project. This is world class and will be second to none. But the most important thing here is not the building, it’s our hearts. The rest of the world is watching. We are redefining what green means. Green is no pollution. From an economic point of view, we have to bring in the green technologies, the best in the world, to build this. And in doing that because of what Langenburg does, we will be able to power all of the waste for things like this,” he said.
“We are going to be a centerpiece and we are proud to assist this amazing mayor and the politics that are here. You guys have every right to be so proud of this. What Engr. Garcia has done is a stunning piece of art and it takes the other technologies with that art to make it a reality. It also takes world-class funding,” Notter added.
