Construction of new NBI building underway

MANILA, Philippines — The construction of the new headquarters of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) along Taft Avenue in Manila started yesterday with a groundbreaking ceremony led by Sen. Imee Marcos.

Apart from Marcos, also present during the ceremony were Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III, former chief justice Reynato Puno, Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan and former NBI chiefs Nonatus Roxas, Virgilio Mendez, Dante Gierran and Eric Distor.

The government has earmarked P2.5 billion for construction of the NBI’s new facility, which consists of 12 floors with a roof deck and a helipad. It has a floor area of about 49,644 square meters.

It will also have a multi-level parking lot, dormitories for agents and employees, a gymnasium and a shooting range.

The facility is expected to be completed in 2026 or 2027.

Marcos said the construction of the modern building for the NBI is long overdue when its old facility was demolished after it was condemned by the city government in 2019.

But more than the building, Marcos stressed the NBI should have modern equipment so the agency is not left behind by its counterparts from other countries.

NBI director Medardo de Lemos said they also need information and communications technology equipment for their investigation and laboratory items for their forensic unit.