MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang officials expressed hope yesterday that president-elect Benigno Aquino III would decide to live near the presidential palace particularly Bahay Pangarap, which is “fit for a President.”
Presidential Management Staff director general Elena Bautista-Horn confirmed that the transition team of incoming President Aquino had already inspected Bahay Pangarap, a presidential rest house inside the Malacañang Park compound, as the possible residence of the new chief executive.
Bautista-Horn said Aquino’s group inspected Bahay Pangarap last Friday night when the transition teams met for the second time since the proclamation of Aquino as the 15th President of the Republic.
“They mentioned that it was one of the places they were considering as a possible presidential residence but they really have not made a decision yet,” she said.
Incoming Executive Secretary Jojo Ochoa led the Aquino transition team that also included lawyers Mike Musngi and Amor Amorantes.
The Arroyo transition team included Bautista-Horn and President Arroyo’s Social Secretary Bettina Aboitiz.
Bautista-Horn said Aboitiz had supervised the renovation of the Bahay Pangarap in 2008.
During the administration of Aquino’s mother, the late President Corazon Aquino, the Arlegui Guest House also known as the Laperal Mansion was the official residence of the Presidenent.
The president-elect has said that he does not want to reside at Malacañang because he does not have fond memories of the place when he lived there in the 1980s.
He has indicated that he would rather live at his family’s Times Street home in West Triangle, Quezon City.
Quezon City is far from Malacañang Palace where the President holds office and where most of the social and official activities are held.
Aquino’s reluctance to live in the Palace has prompted him to even consider living in a condominium unit near Malacañang to address the geographical concerns of the Presidential Security Group (PSG).
Bautista-Horn said Bahay Pangarap is a good option for the president-elect to consider, given its proximity to the Palace, the security that it provides and the facilities available at his disposal.
“I think the Bahay Pangarap is a good option because it is near Malacañang and the area is secure. It’s fit for a President,” she said.
The renovated Bahay Pangarap has a resort-like atmosphere that includes a swimming pool that would suit a bachelor like Aquino.
Security is guaranteed there since it is located within the compound of the PSG headquarters.
Bautista-Horn said that the members of the Aquino transition team were told that additional rooms could be constructed at Bahay Pangarap to accommodate the close-in security of the president-elect and his aides.
She said the construction could start as soon as they approve the proposal to use the place as Aquino’s residence and that the project could be completed in three weeks.