ENGR. Tatum Grace Manzano, division engineer of DepEd Dagupan told The PUNCH in an  interview that it is “restoration, not demolition” that’s being done on the Mac Arthur Building  (West Central Elementary School I Home Economics (HE) Building).  

Manzano admitted that there is a removal of old materials going on as there is a need to elevate the building foundation to adopt with the existing condition around its vicinity.

Constructed in 1909, the MacArthur Building is the oldest school house in Dagupan City. Aside from being MacArthur’s headquarters in 1945, the building also served as the Pangasinan Provincial Capitol building from 1942 to 1945.

“Wooden structures that were also eaten by termites shall be removed while the good wood will be returned,” she said.

Manzano assured, “We will see to it that we will return it to its old condition and already elevated.”

“Once finished, it will look like it used to… including the return of the bathtub used by MacArthur” she said, adding that there is also a color scheme for Gabaldon buildings that shall also be adopted.

The contractor, A.S.S. Construction, has previous contracts for restoration of Gabaldon buildings in other schools divisions and is already knowledgeable as to where he will source the materials needed for the restoration, Manzano said.

“The DepEd has allotted PHP4 million for the restoration of the McArthur building”, said Manzano, that will require stripping and replacement of old wooden materials and elevation of the building to protect it from the city’s regular flooding problem.

Currently, the building’s ground floor is underwater due to rains brought forth by the Southwest Monsoon, or Habagat.

The restoration will take around 100 working days.

As of latest inventory, sixty percent of the parts taken out of MacArthur Building are still in good order, and will be returned to post processing. (Philstar Wire Service/Ahikam Pasion)

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