FBDC to build performing arts center in BGC

MANILA, Philippines -  Fort Bonifacio Development Corp. (FBDC), the main private developer of Bonifacio Global City, is embarking on a P450-million performing arts center project in Taguig following the success of the country’s first world-class science museum.

The performing arts center, which would cement the city’s stature as a premier science and arts hub, will be undertaken by the Bonifacio Art Foun- dation Inc. (BAFI), a corporate founda- tion of FBDC.

In an interview, BAFI managing direc- tor Manny Blas II told The STAR that construction of the 500-seater performing arts theater will commence by the end of the month and would be operational by the middle of next year.

“The next project of the foundation is to build a performing arts center in BGC so we will have both arts and science facili- ties. So the Mind Museum would be for the sciences and now there will also be one for the arts in BGC,” Blas said.

“It won’t be as big as that of the Re- sorts World. We’re catering to the Filipino theater industry, not for the international. That’s not our market, our market here is Filipino talents,” he added.

Blas said the performing arts center would have a similar funding scheme as the Mind Museum, which opened in 2012, in which “the foundation puts up some money and then it gets donations” for the rest.

He said the facility, which would rise along 26th Street across where the NBC tent used to be located, would entail an investment of about P450 million.

FBDC, a company controlled by Ayala Land Inc. and Evergreen Holdings of Joselito Campos, has partnered with the Bases Conversion and Development Authority to turn the former US military base into what is now world-class busi- ness and residential center known as BGC in Taguig.

BAFI is a non-stock, non-profit organi- zation established by FBDC in 1996. In 2007, its by-laws were changed to include a science component in the existing BGC arts program.