U.S. Ambassador leads opening of new embassy facility

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 20): U.S. Ambassador leads opening of new embassy facility

United States Ambassador to the Philippines Harry K. Thomas, Jr. today led the inauguration of the new embassy annex facility in Manila.

Ambassador Thomas and other U.S. Embassy representatives cut the ribbon together with representatives of Manila city government and officers of the Ayala Group of companies, including Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, Chairman and CEO of Ayala Corporation, Bernard Dy, Executive Vice President, of Ayala Land, Inc., and Dante Abando, President of Makati Development Corporation.

According to the U.S. Embassy, the new annex facility, designed and built by the Makati Development Corporation, is the culmination of a six-year, two-phase project totaling $166 million that includes the construction of three annex facilities, a utility building, access control structures, and a parking garage built on the existing U.S. Embassy complex. 

The new annex incorporates numerous sustainable features most notably solar reflective roofing, the use of indigenous trees and shrubs for landscaping, and on-site treatment of wastewater that is reused for irrigation. These features conserve resources and reduce operating costs. The new facility has been registered with the U.S. Green Building Council for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) certification.  

"These improvements in U.S. Embassy facilities in Manila mirror the state of U.S.-Philippines relations: our relations are dynamic, growing, and adapting with the times and to the needs of our two peoples,” said Thomas adding that their government’s relationship with the Philippines has grown and matured.

Also present in the event are Filipino talents like Stephanie Reese, Zendee and Jett Pangan.

The new four-storey building is the last of the three new main office annex buildings that the Department of State is constructing for the U.S. Embassy in Manila as part of six-year facilities improvement project. Two other new buildings inaugurated in 2011, currently house the Embassy's Consular Section, and the Department of Veterans Affairs offices and out-patient clinic.

The new building will serve as the workplace for representatives of 24 different Embassy Sections and U.S. Government agencies including the United States Agency for International Development, the U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, and several law-enforcement agencies. It will also house the Public Affairs Section, and the Thomas Jefferson Information Center. (U.S. Embassy Manila-Public Affairs Section/RJB/JEG/PIA-NCR)

http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=241363757989