A groundbreaking ceremony was held on July 3 for the long-awaited renovations of the Hagåtña Pool.
This marks the second public pool project Angel R. Sablan, Department of Parks and Recreation director, has been tasked with since joining the administration, he said.
“I never thought that I’d be able, during my term at least, to get this pool open,” Santos said.
BME & Sons Inc. was selected as the contractor for the $8.8 million renovation project and has one year to complete it.
Adelup said in a statement that the Hagåtña Pool project is funded by the American Rescue Plan Act and the U.S. Economic Development Administration.
The Office of the Governor of Guam hosted a groundbreaking ceremony at the Hagåtña Pool on June 3. Photo by Skyler Obispo
Additionally, Amorient Engineering was selected for the architectural and engineering designs for the project.
Vincent P. Arriola, Department of Public Works director, said he is confident in BME & Sons to get the project done on time.
“They’re reputable, they’ve gotten great quality work, and I have no doubt this project, when they’re all done, is going to be something that we can all appreciate,” he said.
The renovations will fix major structural issues, modernize its filtration system, and improve its bathhouses.
Santos said that the Hagåtña Pool, an Olympic size swimming pool, can hold up to 660,000 gallons of water. The Harmon Complex Pool holds up to 96,000 gallons of water in comparison.
Acting Gov. Joshua F. Tenorio said that Hagåtña Pool is a fixture in the community.
“[Public swimming pools] are a gathering place for the very young, the very old, and every age in between,” he said.
Tenorio also reflected on Guam’s history with competitive swimming.
“For decades, individual swimmers and teams that trained here in Hagåtña, represented Guam in regional, national, and international sporting events,” he said.
With Super Typhoon Bavi now packing maximum sustained winds of 160 mph and forecast to strengthen further as it moves toward the Marianas, emergency officials are urging businesses and residents to treat this weekend as their critical window to prepare for potentially damaging winds.
Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands are now in Condition of Readiness 3 as Typhoon Bavi approaches, with both governors urging residents and businesses to use the remaining hours of fair weather to prepare.
Task Force Talon relinquished command to the 3rd Battalion, 43rd Air Defense Artillery Regiment (3-43 ADA), ushering in a new battalion to take over Guam’s air missile defense systems.
Emergency management agencies across the region are urging residents and businesses to execute disaster preparedness plans as Tropical Storm 09W is forecast to rapidly intensify and potentially strike Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands as a Category four super typhoon.
