New Marikina police HQ will have spa, indoor firing range

GIFT FROM CITY GOVERNMENT An artist’s perspective of the future eight-story Marikina police headquarters.

Here, happiness is a warm gun and a cold shower—all under one roof.

The Marikina City police may soon become the most pampered lot in the force, with the construction of their eight-story station that will have a “wellness spa,” an indoor firing range and a chapel, among other amenities.

A gift from the city government to local law enforcers, the P130-million building will rise on Fortune Avenue, Barangay Fortune, and is expected to take about two years to complete, Marikina Mayor Marcelino Teodoro said at the groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday.

‘Bank-like’ lobby

It will have a total floor area of 3,752 meters, or 536 square meters per floor, all for the use of Marikina’s 738 policemen who are currently using the fourth floor of the city’s legislative building as their temporary headquarters, sharing the building with the courts and the city jail.

The ambitious project will also have a spacious, “bank-like” lobby, a cafeteria and a gym with shower and locker rooms, Teodoro added.

Planners thought Fortune Road would be “the safest place” to build the new station, away from any fault line or flood-prone area. “We thought that it’s important that (the police), as first responders, are not personally affected by calamity,” Teodoro explained.

Lot from Red Cross

The future police station will be the first of several government buildings that will rise in that area, which is envisioned to host local agencies involved in emergency response and disaster management, he said.

The 3,500-sqm lot was acquired by the local government from the Red Cross, which swapped the land in exchange for taxes it owed the city, he said.

Upon completion of the building, it may take six more months to install the needed equipment and address other logistical issues, a final phase to be tackled by the city council for funding.

Teodoro said the building was conceptualized in December last year under the leadership of then Eastern Police District (EPD) director, Chief Supt. Reynaldo Biay.

The Marikina City Engineering Office and the PNP Engineering Service and Directorate for Logistics will be in charge of its design.

“Our local government should be committed to public service and peace and order (but it) cannot be efficient if there are no good facilities,” Teodoro said.

In an earlier interview, the mayor noted that the last time the local police had their own proper building was two decades ago.

‘Visions come true’

Philippine National Police Director General Oscar Albayalde, who also attended the rites, described the future station as one of the “visions come true” of the PNP, which aspires for a modernized police force.

Albayalde thanked Teodoro and the Marikina City government and, in return, promised to deliver quality police service to the residents.

Also present at the groundbreaking were City Prosecutor Jayson Amante, EPD director Senior Supt. Bernabe Balba, National Capital Region Police Office director Chief Supt. Guillermo Eleazar, and the city police chief, Senior Supt. Roger Quesada. —WITH A REPORT FROM CEDRIX PEREZ