CCP closed for 2 to 3 years starting January 2023

The 53-year old Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) building will be closed for two to three years starting January 2023 to give way for renovation.

This was announced by CCP President Margarita Moran-Floreindo during the Senate cultural communities committee hearing Thursday.

"I would like to announce also, senator, that the CCP is closing its doors in January 2023 because we are now renovating the whole building and structural retrofitting," she said.

They are eyeing to return to the CCP main building on March 15, 2025, according to CCP Chairman Jaime Laya.

Floreindo also appealed for more funds for the lease of the offices that need to move out from the main building.

"We will need more funds than what we expected because we did not expect to move out and because when they started to open the little theater, they saw the structural retrofitting that are needed. So the whole staff are moving out of the building for next year," she said.

The CCP offices will start to vacate the building starting November this year, she said.

Although they will use the corporate funds for the lease for this year, Floreindo said they would need around P390 million additional funding for the office and theater lease in the following years.

Under the 2023 national expenditures program, she said only the budget for the construction of the main building was included.

"It (included in the NEP) but [it is] not enough because we did not know that we all have to move out all at the same time. It was supposed to be by floor," Floreindo said.

The CCP leadership is planning to lease a space at the Design Center of the Philippines for their Artistic Department while the Executive Offices will move into the Ramon Magsaysay Building.

According to CCP's presentation, they are also asking for additional funds for the lease of performance venues and the construction of Liwasang Amphitheater. —NB, GMA News