The Manila city government broke ground for the new Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP) building in Apolinario Mabini Elementary School in Quiapo, Manila on Wednesday, December 29.

Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso, who led the groundbreaking ceremony, said the construction of the new BSP headquarters will end the worries of the Boy Scout community for not having a permanent office.

"I think it is high time for the City of Manila to create what they can call a home - Manila Boy Scout Council. Bahay na nila, kanila na ito, masasabi at ma-aangkin na para sa kanila (This is their house now. It can be said and claimed as their own),” he said.

"We put an end doon sa kanilang pangamba at agam-agam na every now and then magpapalit ng administrasyon. Ito, sa kanila na, para sa kanila na, para sa mga taga-Boy Scout na na matuturing nilang sa kanilang bahay (We put an end to their worries and doubts that every now and then the administration will change. It’s theirs, it's for them, for the Boy Scouts for them to consider their home),” Domagoso added.

The new four-storey BSP building will now have a board room that can accommodate at least 42 persons, a control room, a chairman's office, a scout executive's office, finance office, training hall or museum, and a multi-purpose hall.

"Masaya ako para sa inyo at sana magamit niyo ito ng husto at maging kapaki-pakinabang ito sa inyo, sa inyong organisasyon, at sa inyong mga miyembro at mga future member or future scouts ng ating lungsod, ang Maynila, ang kapitolyo ng bansa (I am happy for all of you and I hope you can use it well and be useful to you, your organization, and your members and future members or future scouts of our city, Manila, the capital of the country),” Domagoso said.

Also present during the ceremony were Rep. Yul Servo Nieto, BSP Manila Council Chairman Rodel Sampang, Division of City Schools Supt. Dr. Magdalena Lim, City Engineer Armand Andres, and City Arch. Ely Balmoris.