The completion of the relocation site for the Museo Dabawenyo is targeted next year, an official said.
Museo Dabawenyo officer-in-charge Winnie Rose Bulig told TIMES in an interview yesterday that the construction of the building is still ongoing. The construction for the exterior of the building is expected to be completed this March.
“So far, they are still in the fourth floor. The pouring of cement is ongoing. Hopefully, within this year, it will be finished,” she said, adding that they hope to complete the interior next year.
Lawmakers had approved in 2017 an ordinance allowing the transfer of Museo Dabawenyo within the premises of People’s Park with a budget allocation of P100 million. The construction of the building is funded by the national government.
The new building at People’s Park is eyed to be a five-story durian-inspired structure.
The museum, which was previously located along A.Pichon Street, is now temporarily situated at the University Drive, Juna Subdvision, Matina, Davao City, which has an exhibit space of about 90 square meters.
Bulig revealed that an additional P100 million coming from the National Museum and from the office of Senator Loren Legarda was downloaded last year.
Legarda, who chairs the Senate’s committees on finance and cultural communities, had assured that there will be adequate funding for the National Museum in its projects including its regional museums in the country.
“The budget already reached P200 million,” Bulig said.
Having been transferred to its temporary location, the Museo Dabawenyo currently feature 50 artifacts, given the limited space of the current building.
Bulig said the museum has more than 1,000 artifacts in its collection, which are now being kept in a storage room rented by the city government.
“Hopefully, when the building is completed, we can use the artifacts in our operation to display them with the help of the National Museum,” she said.
